KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana |Relocating West Prien Lake Road?

Relocating West Prien Lake Road?

July 31, 2007
Reported By: Lee Peck

"Oh, it's very congested, congested and crowded," said motorist Ronny Howell. 

"Congested," said motorist Tan Blanchard. 

"Chaos," said motorist Carol Fontenot. 

"Congested and just all backed up," said motorist Byron Lewis.  

Enough said... West Prien Lake Road at Nelson Road is a driver's nightmare.

Todd Vincent with Sellers and Associates, an engineering, surveying and planning firm out of Lafayette, explains the problem. "The close proximity of that traffic signal to the close proximity to the traffic signal of the 210 off ramps of Nelson Road is what is causing the problem. So this alignment is designed to separate those intersections in order to reduce the congestion in the area," said Vincent.  

After years of congestion, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development says they have three proposals to move traffic on West Prien Lake Road... Literally.

Alternative #1 would relocate West Prien Lake Road from just west of the Contraband Bayou Bridge, into a three lane highway with a turning lane behind the Target shopping center to L'auberge Du Lac Boulevard, eventually meeting back up with Nelson Road.

The project would cost 7.4 million dollars and would acquire enough property for a future expansion to make it five lanes. Holly Hill Road would be extended to connect to the new road, making everything west of that a city street allowing only right in, right out access.

Alternative #2 comes at a cost of 9.2 million dollars and is very similar to Alternative #1. However, it would encourage drivers to use a connector street just east of Olive Garden to the new proposed West Prien Lake Road. In turn it would alleviate congestion at the Holly Hill Road Extension by eliminating one of its two proposed red lights.  

Then there's Alternative #3 which would making improvements on the existing road leaving it where it is. 

"The preliminary studies have suggested that if we leave the road where it is and allow the situation at Cagle Road to continue to move traffic utilizing a traffic light that it is probably just going to make the problem worse," said Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach. 

After reviewing the proposals, local business owners expressed concern about access. "This is a lot of development that you're impacting and there's got to be a better way than what you've proposed here," said business owner Bob Holland. 

"To me this is not the answer. We've been through all this before and we all think the answer is at I-210 and Nelson," said Rick Guidry, owner of Holly Hill Plaza.  

Meanwhile, DOTD is currently conducting an I-210 corridor study, specifically where it meets Nelson Road. The study, expected to be complete within the next 30 days, will be compared to this plan.

The proposals presented would take up 1.3 acres of wetland and 0.4 acres of aquatic habitat. The timeline to complete the project is within the next two years before Sugar Cane Bay arrives, but because the project involves federal, state and local dollars... All parties will have to evaluate each proposal before a final project is selected.