For Immediate Release:                    Contact:

November 13, 2009                             Scot Byrd, Director of Economic Development

                                                            Phone:  (225) 240-2280

                                                            Email:   pointecoupeechamber@yahoo.com

Local Officials Testify at DOTD Highway Program Hearing

NEW ROADS, LA – The Greater Pointe Coupee Chamber of Commerce’s economic development director Scot Byrd, and Patin Engineers and Surveyors’ Cletus Langlois, testified in a Department of Transportation and Development hearing regarding critical transportation needs for Pointe Coupee Parish.   The purpose of the hearing was to review highway construction priorities for Capitol Region parishes.

Mr. Byrd and Mr.Langlois both testified regarding the need for solving some of the drainage improvements necessary for increased rainwater requirements created by the construction of the Audubon Bridge and thanked the DOTD administration for being receptive in meetings with Pointe Coupee Parish prior to the hearing.  In other testimony, they indicated an ever growing need to widen Hospital Road in New Roads (Highway 3131), and a transportation study for a new north/south corridor extending from the bridge area to Highway 190 or possibly even Interstate 10.  Mr. Byrd also indicated he felt Pointe Coupee Parish would be receptive to the location of the northern part of a Baton Rouge loop utilizing the new bridge.  Senator Rob Marionneaux and Representative Thibaut also submitted written testimony to the committee at the hearing.

Anyone wishing to provide additional information to DOTD can submit written statements to the committee postmarked by December 13, 2009.  The address is DOTD (Section 85), P.O. Box 94245, Baton Rouge, LA  70804-9245.

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