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Hwy. 190 project caused unexpected issues for drivers; DOTD installs J-turns as solution

6 years 8 months 1 week ago Thursday, July 20 2017 Jul 20, 2017 July 20, 2017 6:28 PM July 20, 2017 in News
Source: WBRZ
By: WBRZ staff

LIVONIA – A project to fix a dangerous stretch of Highway 190 in Livonia was causing problems for residents and businesses nearby.   

One business owner, Stephanie Ewing, says in the last year she has seen seven fatalities on the highway. 

Residents say a construction project to make the highway safer is actually making it more dangerous since it has been blocking the turn to get into their neighbor. 

"You got to make a U-turn to cross 190. It's dangerous enough making a left turn off the road," resident William Hill said. 

Ewing also said that the construction work blocked the entrance to her restaurant. 

"I didn't know they were blocking our entrance and exit to the highway, until pulled up this morning," Ewing said. 

 The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is now installing J-turn lanes, forcing vehicles to make full left turns before they come to a stop. Officials say they did not anticipate the construction work causing problems for drivers in the area. 

"During the process of that construction, the entrance to that project was closed off. They called us to to re-open it and we did," Rodney Mallett, of DOTD, said. 

Officials say the J-turns should help reduce the impact on drivers the project initially caused and the road work should be completed by the first of the year. 

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