WBRZ - Baton Rouge

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• Report: Louisiana rated C- for infrastructure

  March 19, 2013 9:44 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Louisiana's roads and other infrastructure elements were rated a C- by a group of engineers. The American Society of Civil Engineers 2013 Report Card suggests roads, bridges, and levees aren't up to par. Researchers said more than half of roadways are in poor or mediocre condition.... more »

• Ascension Parish resident spots bridge in need of repair

  February 22, 2013 7:19 PM

  An Ascension Parish bridge on David Drive near Manchac Acre Road will be closed for months while crews replace it. "If it's deemed that the bridge is unsafe then they'll shut the bridge down," Ascension Parish spokesman Lester Kenyon said. On Monday, crews will replace the 17-plank-wooden bridge with... more »

• More road work wanted in Livingston Parish Play Video

  February 4, 2013 10:05 PM

  WALKER- Leaders in Livingston Parish want to widen Hwy. 190 across more of the parish. It's part of the "wish list" they gave federal leaders when the two groups met in Washington, D.C. Recently. In addition to Hwy. 190, leaders want other streets to get attention, too. ... more »

• Roads, rivers still closed in Ascension Parish

  January 17, 2013 5:17 PM

  GONZALES - Parts of Ascension Parish are still dealing with flooding after recent severe weather. Parish emergency managers said the following roads are still closed because of high water. Recreational waterways are also still closed in the parish until the rivers drop back below safe levels. ROAD CLOSURES... more »

• Potholes popping up in Baton Rouge Play Video

  January 11, 2013 6:21 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Potholes are popping up more and more in East Baton Rouge as heavy rain moves through the city-parish. "Potholes are more like ponds these days," said driver, Laura Moore. They form when rain gets into cracks in the road, causing the ground to expand and pull... more »

• High water closes roads in Ascension Parish

  January 8, 2013 8:16 PM

  ASCENSION PARISH- At least four roads are being monitored for high water and have been closed. Deputies set-up barricades to warn drivers the water is too high to cross. The following roads are believed to be impassable: Black Bayou at Roddy Road Duplesis at Beaujohn Road Hwy 73... more »

• Options eyed for Ascension road projects

  December 7, 2012 9:01 AM

  DONALDSONVILLE - Ascension Parish President Tommy Martinez says he will bring to the Parish Council next week plans on how to fund traffic projects in unincorporated parts of the parish. The move comes following the overwhelming defeat of a proposed sales tax last month aimed at funding such projects.... more »

• More women have driver's licenses than men in US

  November 12, 2012 12:28 PM

  WASHINGTON - Women are passing men on the nation's roads. A study by the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute says more women have driver's licenses than men. That's a reversal of the longtime gender gap behind the wheel. Researchers say that's likely to lead to safer, smaller and more... more »

• Ascension sales tax could help improve roads Play Video

  October 23, 2012 5:16 PM

  GONZALES - A half-cent sales tax could be the answer to solving Ascension Parish's traffic problems and voters will get the chance to have their voices heard on the measure this November. The proposed tax would generate about $8 million annually, allowing the parish to secure an $80 million... more »

• Florida Blvd. construction begins Play Video

  October 15, 2012 5:20 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Department of Transportation and Development is working to repave a bumpy patch of Florida Blvd. The 2.6 mile stretch is from N. Foster Dr. to Airline Highway. Prep work has begun in the intersection of N. Foster Dr. and by the Airline Highway ramps. ... more »

• Live oaks a blessing, problem for Garden District Play Video

  October 3, 2012 5:59 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Garden District has been named as one of the top 10 Great Neighborhoods for 2012 by the American Planning Association. The Garden District has been recognized for their neighborhoods, community and live oak trees. APA's Great Places are an example of character and foster economic... more »

• One killed in East Baton Rouge crash

  October 2, 2012 9:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Emergency crews are responding to a fatal crash just outside city limits. Sources say a motorcyclist died in the wreck, near Jefferson and Highland. No other details were available. Stay with WBRZ.com and News2 for updates. more »

• Engineer to unveil Gonzales roads plan draft

  September 25, 2012 10:14 AM

  GONZALES - Gonzales officials are a few weeks away from unveiling a comprehensive transportation improvement plan that includes upgrades to many of city's major roads. Glenn Shaheen, a consultant and engineer working on the transportation plan, called The Go Program, presented a preliminary report to the city council on... more »

• Pointe Coupee slated for millions in road improvements Play Video

  August 9, 2012 5:05 PM

  NEW ROADS - More than a thousand miles of roads in rural areas will get a facelift, including many in Pointe Coupee Parish. The project will cost an estimated $425 million over the next three years, and will be used for upgrades to roads that don't get federal money.... more »

• New law puts the brakes on inexperienced drivers Play Video

  July 24, 2012 10:21 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A new law which goes into effect next week is intended to put the brakes on inexperienced drivers. Beginning Aug. 1, all first-time drivers will have to have more time behind the wheel and in a classroom before getting their first license. Drivers aged 15 and... more »

• Student loan, roads bill poised for final passage

  June 28, 2012 7:29 AM

  WASHINGTON - Congressional leaders are hoping for final passage this week of a bill reshaping federal transportation programs and averting a doubling of interest rates for millions of federal student loans. Lawmakers and aides said House and Senate leaders had reached agreement on the measure. Without action by the... more »

• Tax plan would improve Ascension Parish Roads

  June 14, 2012 5:37 PM

  GONZALES - A proposed half cent sales tax increase could pave the way for infrastructure improvements in Ascension Parish. The proposal first has to be approved by the parish council before a final decision by voters in November. The plan would widen Airline Highway to six lanes from... more »

• Upgrades set for highways in Zachary

  June 9, 2012 9:53 AM

  ZACHARY- A 5-month project to upgrade U.S. Highway 61 and Louisiana Highway 64 in Zachary began this week. The Advocate reports the $1.1 million project includes adding a dedicated right-turn land for motorists traveling north on U.S. Highway 61. The existing two-lane undivided segment of westbound Louisiana Highway 64 will... more »

• Fire extinguished, road remains closed near Air Liquide plant

  May 22, 2012 7:20 AM

  PORT ALLEN - US Highway 190 at Bueche Rd. remains closed this morning, after a chemical fire at the Air Liquide plant caused officials to shut-down the roadway. Captain Doug Cain, with Louisiana State Police, says crews have extinguished the fire, but hot spots are still present. State... more »

• Ascension leaders plan parish-wide road work Play Video

  May 16, 2012 10:23 PM

  GONZALES - Major roadwork is planned for Ascension parish, including widening a stretch of highway once called one of the most dangerous roads in the country. The proposed work would widen La. 42 between Airline and La. 44, once considered the sixth most dangerous road in the U. S.... more »

• $325M borrowing plan for rural roads near complete

  May 9, 2012 8:01 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A $325 million borrowing plan to repair and upgrade rural roads across Louisiana is near final legislative passage. The proposal by Jonesboro Rep. Jim Fannin is up for a House vote Wednesday. If approved there, it heads to Gov. Bobby Jindal, who supports it. Every parish but... more »

• Worst Roads: Special Report Play Video

  April 30, 2012 3:18 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Tonight on News2 at 10, go for a ride on some of the worst roads in our area. We asked, and our viewers told News2's where to find them. Rob Krieger put those roads to the test using a simple cup of water. Watch the... more »

• $90 million program to improve NO-area roads

  April 3, 2012 8:58 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A $90 million program has been started to repair, restore and improve more than 60 roadways in Orleans and Jefferson parishes. Many of the roads were damaged during hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 and then used as major hauling routes for post-story recovery operations. Repairs will... more »

• $90 million program to improve NO-area roads

  April 3, 2012 8:24 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A $90 million program has been started to repair, restore and improve more than 60 roadways in Orleans and Jefferson parishes. Many of the roads were damaged during hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 and then used as major hauling routes for post-story recovery operations. Repairs will... more »

• Roads near Geismar plant to stay closed tonight Play Video

  March 22, 2012 5:03 PM

  GEISMAR - State Police said La. 73 in Geismar will remain closed throughout the night due to the plant fire at the Westlake Vinyls plant earlier this morning. The highway was shut down between La. 30 and La. 75 after emergency crews responded to the fire at the chemical... more »

• Sheriff not ruling out charges in suicide Play Video

  March 6, 2012 5:10 PM

  NEW ROADS - The sheriff of Pointe Coupee Parish said he's not ruling out criminal charges yet in the death of a 17-year-old girl. "Anyone that would take the law and go beyond the scope and actually break the law could be charged," Sheriff Bud Torres said. Now,... more »

• New Roads man held on rape, kidnap charges

  February 28, 2012 10:28 AM

  NEW ROADS - A 33-year-old New Roads man has been arrested on rape and second-degree kidnapping charges. The rape victim told police she agreed to ride with her attacker to a Baton Rouge store on Saturday. Instead, according to police, the woman said her attacker drove her to... more »

• Construction traffic impacts for week of Feb. 20

  February 20, 2012 11:10 AM

  BATON ROUGE- The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced construction projects that will affect traffic this week. I-12 WB & EB: Right lane closure between Walker and Juban Rd. each night beginning Wed., Feb. 22 through Fri., Feb. 24 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. to allow crews... more »

• $43 million could be taken away from road improvements Play Video

  February 9, 2012 6:01 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Twenty cents from every gallon of gas goes to the Louisiana Highway Trust Fund to pay for road improvements and infrastructure. But the state's legislature wants to take $43 million away from that fund to help balance the budget. It leaves drivers and local leaders angry.... more »

• Battle over roads likely to continue in Livingston Parish Play Video

  December 9, 2011 6:29 PM

  LIVINGSTON - The battle over roads continues in Livingston Parish, even after the recent election where the issue took center stage. This year, 31 roads were approved for repair work, but parish president Mike Grimmer has authorized work on about 23 of those projects. He said some are not... more »

• App makes reporting drainage, road issues easy

  September 20, 2011 4:35 PM

  GONZALES - Have a ditch that needs to be dug out? Seen a stop sign knocked down? Now there's an easier way to get the problem fixed in Ascension Parish. Just snap a picture with your phone and send it directly to Ascension Public Works through a new app,... more »

• Ascension road concerns

  March 25, 2011 5:42 PM

  Ascension Parish - Highway 931 in Ascension Parish is showing signs of buckling. State Representative Mert Smiley, (R) Port Vincent, is calling for the DOTD to correct the problem before it becomes worse. Representative Smiley says the state has equipment that could grind the bumps down. Highway... more »

• Tickfaw rises over roads, into yards in Holden

  March 10, 2011 10:24 PM

  HOLDEN- Some rivers are still hours away from cresting and that's sending people to higher ground. In Holden, at least three major highways are underwater. Countless roads to homes and neighborhoods aren't far behind. And while many are used to what flooding brings, they're still keeping an eye on... more »

• Report suggests BR/NOLA traffic getting better

  March 9, 2011 11:26 AM

  Baton Rouge - Believe it or not but Louisiana roads may be improving! At least that's the findings of the 2010 INRIX Traffic Congestion Report. The report cites an increase in funding as major reasons why roads are getting better in south LA. Read the official release below forwarded... more »

• Icing on area roads, including I-10

  February 3, 2011 4:49 AM

  BATON ROUGE - According to Louisiana State Police, some roadways are freezing over. The following closures have been reported to us by LSP/DOTD: St Mary’s Parish: • US 90 remains closed from the Calumet Bridge to LA 83. Traffic is being routed from US 90 onto LA 182 in... more »

• DOTD prepped for icy roads

  February 2, 2011 5:34 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The La. Department of Transportation and Development is geared up for icy roads. Crews loaded trucks full of sand and made sure equipment was working properly. While DOTD can't predict what the weather will bring, it's preparing for the worst. "Our top priority is always I-10,... more »

• Attorneys compromise over Gosserand blood sample

  November 29, 2010 12:12 PM

  NEW ROADS - Attorneys in the Victoria Gosserand vehicular homicide case have reached a compromise over the accused's blood sample. Prosecutors say that sample shows Gosserand's blood was nearly four times the legal limit the night she crashed her vehicle into another car, killing 23-year-old Terri Parker and badly... more »

• Garbage truck leaks cause concern

  November 23, 2010 5:25 PM

  DENHAM SPRINGS- People in one Livingston Parish neighborhood say they can't get a long term-fix for a problem involving garbage trucks. They say the trucks leak some type of oil or hydraulic fluid onto the streets, and are concerned it could wind up harming children or pets. There are... more »

• S. Harrell's Ferry Road won't reopen as scheduled

  November 19, 2010 11:58 AM

  BATON ROUGE- South Harrell's Ferry Road between Jones Creek and O'Neal Lane will not open, as scheduled, this week. Five days of rainy weather kept crews off the site, and pushed back the time-table. Lanes won't re-open for another week. The week of December 6th, one lane will be open... more »

• Snyder murder trial going to the jury

  November 17, 2010 7:44 PM

  NEW ROADS – The state’s case against Larry Snyder in the murder of Davina Chapman is going to the jury late tonight, according to the Pointe Coupee Parish Clerk’s office. Earlier today, witnesses for the prosecution detailed how Davina Chapman was killed last year during the second-degree murder trial of... more »

• Gosserand attorney wants blood sample split

  November 10, 2010 2:00 PM

  POINTE COUPEE PARISH - An emotional Victoria Gosserand was in court for a motions hearing today, along with more than a dozen family members of the woman she's accused of killing in a drunken crash last December. Gosserand's attorney filed a motion asking that a blood sample taken from... more »

• New Roads Mayor in federal court

  November 3, 2010 4:04 PM

  BATON ROUGE - New Roads Mayor Tommy Nelson was in federal court today for a motions hearing in his upcoming racketeering trial, part of a larger federal corruption investigation. Officials at the U. S. Attorney's Office in Baton Rouge said the motions Nelson filed were all denied, including a... more »

• New Roads residents ready for change

  November 3, 2010 2:13 PM

  NEW ROADS - People in New Roads said today they're ready to see a change after voting out Mayor Tommy Nelson in last night's general election. Local businessman Robert Myer defeated Nelson with 53-percent of the vote. Today Myer told News 2 that he hopes to improve education in... more »

• S. Harrell's Ferry Road to re-open, partially Nov 15th

  October 26, 2010 11:44 AM

  South Harrell's Ferry Road, between Jones Creek Road and O'Neal Lane will re-open to traffic, one lane- each direction, the week of November 15th. The road has been closed between those streets as crews worked on the roadway. The embankment was fixed, culverts were replaced under the Knox Branch crossing,... more »

• Money for roads could be spent to prevent crime in BR

  October 5, 2010 7:00 PM

  Money to improve roads could be spent to prevent crime in Baton Rouge. Some city leaders want the police and the District Attorney’s Office to get it. News 2’s Rachel Frost got answers on how it could be spent. more »

• Morning downpour causes problems in BR

  August 18, 2010 4:51 PM

  Flooded roads and roof problems are some of the things people in Baton Rouge had to deal with this morning. Water was standing on portions of Florida Boulevard, forcing some drivers to use only the inside lanes. On Perkins Road, at least one car stalled trying to get through... more »

• New law gets rid of construction signs

  May 28, 2010 5:11 AM

  Signs describing the cost and scheduled completion date of highway construction will be done away with after Gov. Bobby Jindal signed the bill into law. The change was a cost-cutting move for the state transportation department, because the signs cost about $500 apiece. State transportation officials say information about highway... more »

• Ascension exempts facilities tax

  February 19, 2010 7:28 AM

  The Ascension Parish Council has adopted sales tax exemptions on concessions and other limited kinds of sales at all public facilities in the unincorporated areas of the parish. Officials have said the proposed changes, if enacted in concert with other parish taxing bodies, would eliminate the 8.5 percent in state... more »

• Some roads still closed due to high water in Ascension Parish

  December 21, 2009 11:44 AM

  Several roads in Ascension Parish remain closed Monday after last week's heavy rain: ·Amite River Rd., Brignac ·Idle Hour Rd., Claybank ·Kay Dr., Claybank ·Broussard Rd., Prairieville ·Raymond Tullier Rd., Sorrento ·Summerfield South Rd., Summerfield ·Airport Rd., Summerfield ·Lake St., Summerfield While there is still high water in parts of... more »

• Drainage pump breaks in Ascension Parish

  December 15, 2009 10:00 AM

  One of the five drainage pumps in Ascension Parish broke after running for several days trying to alleviate flooding in the area. Parish leaders are hopeful the pump will be repaired by the end of the week. The other four pumps are running at full capacity. Ascension Parish remains under... more »

• More road closures in Ascension Parish

  December 14, 2009 1:57 PM

  UPDATE: Five roads in Ascension Parish are closed due to high water as of 1:30 p.m.: ·Amite River Rd., Brignac ·Paul Rd., Sorrento ·Summerfield South Rd., Summerfield ·Airport Rd., Summerfield ·Entrance to Pelican Point subdivision more »

• Roads reopen in Ascension Parish

  December 8, 2009 4:33 PM

  UPDATE: Eight roads are open again in Ascension Parish after they were closed due to high water: · Tiggy Duplessis at LA 621, Duplessis · Walter Hill Rd., Hillaryville · Marchand School Rd., Hillaryville · Edmond Brignac Rd., Lake · LA 930 at Henry, Prairieville · Roy Rogers at James,... more »

• Roads reopen in Tangipahoa Parish

  December 8, 2009 3:08 PM

  UPDATE: Nine roads in Tangipahoa Parish are open again after they were flooded this morning: -Russell Town Road -Oilfield Road -Graham Road -Easley Road -Mixon Road -Lowry Road -Hayden Road -Chappepeela Ridge Road -Hillary Simmons Road School Road remains closed. If you see additional high water please call the Tangipahoa... more »

• Transportation leaders gear up for icy weather

  December 3, 2009 4:47 PM

  State Transportation leaders are gearing up for the potential for icy conditions on roads this weekend. They spent the day making sure de-icing trucks and sand trucks are in good working order. "Our crews have been put on standby," Dustin Annison with the Department of Transportation and Development... more »

• West Baton Rouge Parish to seek federal aid

  November 11, 2009 5:59 AM

  The West Baton Rouge Parish Council voted unanimously to approve the allocation of $113,000 in general funds in hopes of securing a federal grant for road improvements. Parish President Riley Berthelot says getting the council to approve the funds was the final step before the parish submits the application for... more »

• Residents upset over potholes in Slaughter

  September 18, 2009 11:54 AM

  UPDATE: Video attached. Mayor Bobbie Bourgeois needs $2.5 million to fix roads in the town of Slaughter. Right now, there isn't enough money to go around. The worst potholes are on Tom Drive and Holly Drive, located a few blocks from Town Hall. Residents there said people are... more »

• Residents upset over potholes in Slaughter

  September 18, 2009 10:09 AM

  Residents on one street in Slaughter say people are forced to drive through their lawns to navigate around potholes. Neighbors have been dealing with the issue for about four years. Mayor Bobbie Bourgeois is aware of the problem and is fighting to get the road fixed. News 2... more »