<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">There is a construction project ongoing in the median of First Avenue. Can you explain what’s going there?</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Sure.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Workers are building an 8,160-foot-long trail as part of city officials’ effort to better serve pedestrians and bicyclists, said city spokesman Matt Young.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“The trail runs along First Avenue between 12th Street on the south end and will extend to Broad Street on the north end,” Young wrote in an email.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“The corridor will connect three adjacent and two offset schools. In addition, churches, day care centers and recreation facilities will be linked. The idea is to provide a safe multi-use path for the community.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The Informer first wrote about the project in 2013, when it was still in the design stage.</span>

<span class="R~sep~AHeadBrief">DOTD to construct J-turn at intersection</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Why is a stop light not installed at the intersection of U.S. 165 and La. 101 at Woodlawn? There have been at least 30 accidents which resulted in three fatalities since U.S. 165 has been four-laned.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The state Department of Transportation and Development “is aware of this location” and is working to secure funding to install a J-turn at the intersection, said DOTD spokeswoman Deidra Druilhet.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">She forwarded the following explanation, which appears on the DOTD’s website:</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“The J-turn concept is a reconfiguration of the traditional intersection that is used in different parts of the country to improve traffic flow. DOTD has begun using this concept at specific locations across Louisiana.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“The J-turn concept is a method that safely and efficiently manages high traffic volumes at intersections with multiple approaches along a divided highway. The J-turn functions by redirecting through- and left-turning traffic on the side street approach to turn right proceed to the nearby U-turn and then return to its original course.”</span>

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<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Online:</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">www.dotd.la.gov.</span>

<span class="R~sep~AHeadBrief">Property standards on readers’ minds</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The Imperial Calcasieu Museum owns a metal building facing Elm Street. The land between the metal building and the street is a jungle, with trees protruding into the street.</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Does the city extend some sort of exemption to the museum or simply not enforce the laws?</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">City spokesman Matt Young said officials don’t grant exemptions from property standards ordinances.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">A city inspector was sent to check the property, he said, and “will take appropriate action to bring it into compliance with all applicable city codes.”</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The Power Church International on Jefferson Drive has a huge pile of trash by the curb. It has been there four or five weeks. The regular trash pickup will obviously not pick it up. When will the church be required to do something with it?</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">A city inspector was dispatched to look into the matter, Young said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">To report property standards violations, he said, call the city at 491-1294.</span>

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<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Online:</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">www.cityoflakecharles.com.</span>

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<span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">The I</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">nform</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">er answers questions from rea</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">ders each Sunday, Monday a</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">nd Wednesday. It is re</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">searched and written by</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Andrew Perzo</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">, an</span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">American Press</span> <span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">staff wri</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">ter. To ask a question, call</span> <span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">494-409</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">8 and leave voice mail, or ema</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">il informer@americanpress.com.</span>