LAFAYETTE PARISH — Lafayette’s Department of Transportation and Development rolled out two new designs for the I-49 Connector project during an open house meeting on Tuesday, taking the billion dollar project one step closer to completion.
The new drawings feature two options and include additional lighting, and new roundabouts.
Deidra Druilhet, Public Information Officer for DOTD explains that the new design takes into consideration public opinion.
“We actually took a step back because the realization that was brought to us by the local community was that things have changed, so we took a step back because we wanted to hear from them about what their needs were from several years ago when their needs.”
The Lafayette Connector project is a 5.5 segment of highway to extend I-49 from I-10 to the Lafayette Airport but the project has faced its share of controversy and opposition over the years.
City officials say the project is crucial to Lafayette, helping to provide hurricane evacuation routes, and new connectivity to the city… but many residents are still very much concerned about the impact of the I-49 Connector project on Lafayette’s north side.
Roger Peak, a Lafayette resident expressed his concern over the environmental implications amid ongoing lawsuit over contaminated soil and groundwater.
“Our group is opposed to the connector for several reasons and the main reason is the path the connector is scheduled to go through - the abandoned railroad downtown - it's highly toxic and under litigation."
Lafayette resident, Nureaka Ross says while she is happy to see some ideas taken into consideration, the I-49 Connector fails to address other concerns with displacement.
"We are currently in a housing crisis and many families will be displayed by this project so where are they going to. Majority of the funds will go to the homeowner and not the tenant and that's a concern for me."
Tuesday's meeting is one of several open houses on the I-49 Connector project seeking public opinion.
DOTD says residents concerns will be reviewed as the environmental study continues - for now residents can view the project online and leave their comments on lafayetteconnector.com
