NEW IBERIA — For years now, as a train passes through New Iberia, the only thing warning cars of that train are dinging lights. People in the area say that's not enough.
"They'll fly through here because there aren't arms, they'll be like let me hurry up and get through here," resident Arthur Gray said.
That's why Councilman David Broussard says six intersections in New Iberia will have cross arms by the end of 2020.
"Every arm and light will be up on this main drag. Help is coming very soon, safety is coming very soon. Cross arms are coming to these six locations, Julia, Iberia, Weeks, Providence, French," Broussard, who represents District 3, explained.
Broussard says he has been working for the last 17 years to get the arms installed. Now, a letter from DOTD to State Senator Fred Mills confirms the project is happening this year.
"300 calls it took, to get all of this in motion," Broussard added.
The letter from DOTD to the Senator will be read by Mills at Tuesday night's council meeting.The railroad company, BNSF, is also planning to raise the tracks a few inches. Broussard explains this will help keep the signals from failing.
"Whatever makes the arms and lights work, that's all we want, if it takes raising the tracks, they're going to raise the tracks. That's all getting done sometime this year," Broussard said.
"It'll be great, a lot of lives are going to be saved," Gray added.
