KATC is getting answers about the safety of the on-and-off ramps at I-10 in Breaux Bridge.
A number of viewers have reached out to us saying there’s not enough room to merge or to accelerate to a safe speed when getting on the highway.
DOTD has put up signs along the ramp in Breaux Bridge telling drivers to yield before getting on the interstate, but the drivers we spoke with say it’s just too dangerous.
As soon as drivers get up to speed, they quickly hit the brakes to yield before getting on I-10.
The lanes are narrow and there is not much time for drivers to get over.
“These 18-wheelers can’t stop. Cars panic because they have nowhere to stop and when they slam their brakes, these trucks have all this momentum behind them and they can’t stop,” said Catherine Mowery.
After a near miss on the interstate, Mowery now uses back roads as much as possible.
“There is no marking saying you don’t have an acceleration lane and I had a gentleman in an SUV almost slam into me. He avoided me, but almost hit someone else,” said Mowery.
DOTD District Administrator Bill Oliver said, “It requires motorists to be a little more attentive and to gage their speeds and their entrance on to those ramps.”
Oliver encourages drivers to slow down, be courteous and let people in. He says because there is no shoulder, it’s hard for police to patrol the area and slow drivers down.
“We do have a lot of extra signs, we have message boards telling drivers when there is stopped traffic, we lowered the speed limit and there are signs to tell drivers when they are speeding,” said Oliver. “It’s really up to the drive in these type of situations.”
DOTD says this phase of the project should be complete by the end of the year or early next year and then phase two will start.
