HLS 11RS-1055 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2011
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 119
BY REPRESENTATIVES ST. GERMAIN, BARROW, AND THIBAUT AND SENATOR
MARIONNEAUX
TRANSPORTATION DEPT: Urges and requests DOTD to reverse certain work performed
on the Interstate 10 bridge in West Baton Rouge
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the Department of Transportation and Development to revert lane2
adjustments that were implemented as part of the ongoing I-10 Mississippi River3
Bridge, otherwise known as the Horace A. Wilkinson Bridge, signing and striping4
project.5
WHEREAS, as of Sunday, August 2, 2010, at 8:00 a.m., all westbound traffic6
crossing the Mississippi River Bridge, otherwise known as the Horace A. Wilkinson Bridge,7
in Baton Rouge exiting to Port Allen and Plaquemine is required to use the outer lane prior8
to exiting and traffic in the westbound center lane is no longer able to exit as that lane serves9
only westbound through traffic; and10
WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation and Development stated that these11
changes would leave the center and far-left lane free for the sixty-three percent of through12
traffic traveling west in all three lanes to maintain optimum traveling speed; and13
WHEREAS, the department announced that the far-right outer lane would serve the14
remaining twenty-five percent exiting for Plaquemine and twelve percent existing for Port15
Allen, and allow this traffic to slow for their appropriate exits without impeding the overall16
traffic flow; and17
WHEREAS, the department stated that the imbalance caused significant congestion18
and delays on the bridge which caused frequent logjams at the I-10 and I-110 interchange;19
and20 HLS 11RS-1055 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 119
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WHEREAS, before these changes, the westbound traffic on the three-lane stretch of1
the bridge could exit from the middle or right lanes; and2
WHEREAS, since the change, traffic exiting the bridge for Plaquemine and Port3
Allen are forced to make sudden lane changes causing confusion and danger to motorists on4
the bridge; and5
WHEREAS, it appears that more accidents have occurred on the bridge than in the6
past; and7
WHEREAS, it is public opinion that the overall traffic flow on the bridge and the8
I-10 and I-110 interchange has not improved in such a way to justify the changes made; and9
WHEREAS, the department is conducting further studies which have thus far shown10
that previous striping directing traffic flow may be warranted.11
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby12
urge and request that the Department of Transportation and Development allow all13
westbound traffic crossing the Mississippi River Bridge, otherwise known as the Horace A.14
Wilkinson Bridge, in Baton Rouge exiting to Port Allen and Plaquemine to exit the bridge15
from the middle or right lane as was done since the original construction of the bridge.16
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the17
secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development.18
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
St. Germain HCR No. 119
Urges and requests DOTD to revert lane adjustments that were implemented as part of the
ongoing I-10 Mississippi River Bridge, otherwise known as the Horace A. Wilkinson Bridge,
signing and striping project.