DOTD says changes to U.S. 90 will make travel quicker and safer

Posted: May 30, 2012 5:51 PM by Elizabeth Hill
Updated: May 30, 2012 6:38 PM

The end is near for a DOTD project on U.S. 90 from Pinhook to Broussard. Officials say the J-turns project and widening of U.S. 90 should be completed by October.

When it is finished, drivers can expect a much smoother ride.

Orange cones, lane closed signs and congestion.

"It's rush hour all the time."

Ashley Ortego says she's looking forward to a new and improved Highway 90.

"It's just too sedentary right now. I was just at that red light and probably sat there seven minutes."

DOTD hopes these improvements will help the flow of traffic and make turning safer. In addition to widening 90 from four lanes to six, J-turns are being constructed.

"When you're coming off a side street or driveway you would take a right turn to get on the main highway then go down to the next U-turn and make a U-turn to come back instead of making a left turn.

District Administrator Bill Oliver says cutting out the left turns cuts down on accidents.

"By doing this you're creating a more merging traffic and you're eliminating the right angle conflicts and the right angle crashes which are the really severe crashes."

These new J-turns may take some getting used to, but DOTD says in the end they will make travel on U.S. 90 quicker and also safer.