Work will start soon on Nelson Road extension

Published 7:09 am Friday, February 10, 2023

“This project will expand Nelson Road north bound with the construction of a new bridge over Contraband Bayou that will end at West Sallier Street,” said Shawn Wilson, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary. “This work also calls for building an access road to the Port of Lake Charles and the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District.”

Wilson described the one-mile project as a multi-modal transportation connecting project.

“It interfaces with The Port and benefits the rail and commercial trucking industry as well as residents in these neighborhoods,” he said.

The Port of Lake Charles will partner with DOTD in moving the port’s railroad tracks. The Port donated the right-of-way for the bridge.

Discussions regarding a Nelson Road Extension began at least 10 years ago. Former House Speaker Chuck Kleckly said talks began before then, in the 1970s.

“It was a stretch for the department,” Wilson said.

The original estimate was around 70 million. Wilson said inflation, supply disruptions, workforce challenges and transportation challenges were responsible for the estimate’s increase.

“That’s a pretty big gap we had to close,” he added.

State Sen. Phillip Tarver, R-Lake Charles, spoke at the event. “We really do well going east and west, but not a lot of north and south ease of movement. This provides us a means to get here to there. Thank you for literally bridging that gap to get this project done.”

“This will connect South Lake Charles to the lakefront,” State Sen. Mark Abraham, R-Lake Charles, said. “I think you’re going to see a boom in development along this corridor.”

The project also meets the state’s goal for investing in multi-modal infrastructure, Wilson said. Louisiana has eight deep water ports. The Port of Lake Charles is the 14th busiest port in the nation based on tonnage, Wilson said.  “That alone justifies this type of expenditure.”

It will also help with congestion and make traffic easier and safer on certain streets, many of which go through residential areas.

Mayor Hunter called the bridge a “new gateway for downtown.”

“Downtown matters. Lots of cities have different corners of the city that are thriving, but it’s hard to point out a truly successful city without a thriving downtown,” Hunter said.

Expect traffic inconvenience during the railroad track relocation. The new bridge spans undeveloped property, so construction should not pose the inconvenience of a re-work project. This is a 900-day project with many moving parts. Construction could also be delayed by rain and weather events. However, “the clock is ticking,” Wilson said. He expects construction to begin in the next 30 to 45 days.