The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and general contractor Brown Industrial Construction are in the middle of a project in the southern section of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The I-10/Pecue Lane Interchange project has been ongoing and in the works for years. The area around the new interchange has been growing, and residents have long awaited the completion of the project.
In November 2005, East Baton Rouge Parish citizens approved the $820 million Green Light Plan. The plan's goal was to address a sizeable backlog of roadway improvement projects and the rapid deterioration of traffic conditions throughout the parish, according to Brad Ponder, a Project Manager for East Baton Rouge Parish. He is part of the team implementing MoveBR, the next iteration of the Green Light Plan. The I-10/Pecue Lane Interchange was one of the 42 priority projects the plan covered.
"Due to the rapid deterioration of traffic conditions at the Siegen Lane and Highland Road interchanges post-Hurricane Katrina, an Interchange Justification Report for a new interchange at I-10 and Pecue Lane was initiated by DOTD in partnership with the City-Parish," Ponder said.
Ultimately, a team created a new scope, funding models, and environmental and engineering schedules for a new I-10/Pecue Lane Interchange project. Initial funding was designated, authorized environmental studies and preliminary engineering selections were made, and new contracts were executed by late 2009.
At that point, an engineering design team began working on interchange concepts, with several geometric layouts proposed. Ultimately, they settled on a diverging diamond interchange (DDI) concept.
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"It was found to have the greatest benefit based on right of way constraints, impacts to significant wetlands south of the interstate, and the reduced relocation estimate for three nearby high-power transmission lines," said Sam Desmond, a DOTD Area Engineer for East Baton Rouge Parish. "It was also found that the reduced traffic conflict points entering and exiting the proposed on- and off-ramps improved safety and reduced delays."
The DDI concept received the necessary approvals, and the project was finally ready to move forward.
The three-phased project began in the summer of 2017. Phase one lasted just a few months, focusing on clearing and grubbing work. Construction on phase two began in the summer of 2019 and concluded in fall 2021. Work during this phase concentrated on installing mechanically stabilized earth walls. Other work included the removal of an existing two-lane bridge. Two multi-lane bridges are replacing the former bridge. The earth walls were necessary because Pecue Lane was above I-10.
The third and final phase began in spring 2023, and the estimated completion date is spring 2026. So, it should be concluded 21 years after the project was initially conceived as part of the Green Light Plan.
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Phase three has a significant scope. It includes:
- Widening Pecue Lane from two lanes to four and six travel lanes between Perkins Road and Airline Highway
- Reconstruction of the KCS Railroad at-grade crossing
- Replacement and construction of the Ward Creek bridges
- Construction of Reiger Road Extension, which connects the Industriplex to Pecue Lane
- Construction of the on- and off-ramps on I-10
- Opening up the fully functional DDI to traffic (the second DDI in Louisiana)
The new DDI and the significant amount of earthwork make this a large, complex project.
"The interchange geometry is also relatively new to the state," said Anna Hanks, an Innovative Procurement Manager for DOTD. "However, the required construction follows widespread roadway and bridge construction practices."
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"One of the major challenges [on the project] has been constructing the new Pecue Lane in a high-urbanized area," said Roy Payne, a Project Engineer for Richard C. Lambert Consultants, a civil engineering company.
The average daily traffic (ADT) near the project on I-10 is 92,000, and it is expected to grow to 136,000 by 2040. I-10 is a major east-west freight corridor that runs from the Atlantic (Jacksonville, Florida) to the Pacific (Santa Monica Beach) and traverses southern Louisiana. Hanks added that I-10 is the primary route for motorists traveling across the lower portion of Louisiana.
"These infrastructure improvements will not only benefit the local community, but also provide immense economic benefits as we continue to advance our roadway system," Payne said.
At the intersection currently, there are backups. Some vehicles exit the main road and cut through local streets. The nearby neighborhood (Woodbridge) currently only has one functioning entrance/exit to the interstate. During phase three, the team is adding a second entrance/exit, which should alleviate some of the backup.
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The ADT along Pecue Lane in 2022 was 43,380, and it is projected to be 63,000 in 2040. The significant traffic increase is the driving reason behind the need to widen Pecue Lane.
The team has taken multiple steps to accommodate the traffic while construction is ongoing. "This requires complex traffic shifts throughout construction, and at times, complete road closures," Payne said.
He noted that the team worked through the traffic management challenges by having close contact and coordination with the project stakeholders, specifically DOTD and City-Parish, which assists with clear communication with motorists before any traffic impacts.
General contractor Brown Industrial Construction is based out of Baton Rouge. The firm aims to understand their client's needs, nurture a collaborative approach, and form strong partnerships with their customers. Brown Industrial Construction has a long-standing relationship with DOTD.
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"DOTD has worked with this contractor before on previous projects, including Pecue Lane phase one construction, and they maintain open communications with the project team," Payne said. "They have previous local experience on road/bridge projects and have the knowledge necessary to complete a complex priority project like Pecue Lane and I-10 Interchange."
The contractor knows the area well and has progressed the project according to the schedule. Another key to keeping the project on schedule is Mother Nature.
"Early in the project, the contractor had approximately three months of very dry weather and was able to get a large portion of the required earthwork completed ahead of schedule," Payne said. "Since then, if an issue has presented itself that would possibly take a while to address due to its complexity, the contractor has been able to shift to other work activities to move the project along while waiting on direction to address the issue."
The project's third phase has a budget of nearly $91 million. That includes $8 million for right of way acquisition and $4 million for utility relocation. The remainder of the money was for construction.
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Three different entities are supplying funding:
- Federal government - 52 percent
- State government - 42.5 percent
- Local government - 5.5 percent
The budget for the entire project (phases one through three) is $131.5 million.
As the conclusion of the Pecue Lane/I-10 Interchange project comes into focus, the team can see how it has changed the roadway with great clarity.
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"Looking back in the rearview mirror, this project has come from an unassuming two-lane roadway to a multi-lane corridor with new access points on and off of I-10, a new DDI concept that is beginning to gain acceptance nationwide, and more options for the traveling public to get from home to work or school and back home again," Hanks said. "More options with fewer delays means more time to participate in what makes southern Louisiana home."
- Owner: Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
- General Contractor: Brown Industrial Construction, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Designer:Prime Shread-Kuyrkendall & Associates, Inc.
- Project Engineer: Roy Payne, PE of Richard C. Lambert Consultants, LLC
- Other Key Contractors:R.J. Daigle & Sons Contractors, Inc., Geismar, Louisiana; Siema Construction, LLC, Lafayette, Louisiana; Gascot Construction, LLC, Covington, Louisiana; Ernest P. Breaux Electrical, LLC, New Iberia, Louisiana; Pinnacle Design/Build Group, Inc., Cumming, Georgia
