West Baton Rouge Parish resident Anthony Summers brought urgent traffic concerns to the Parish Council Thursday, highlighting daily synchronization problems along the Highway 1 corridor that affect more than 44,700 vehicles per day—far beyond the roadway's original design capacity.

During public comments at the June 12 council meeting, Summers described the daily frustration of hitting consecutive red lights from Addis Lane to Louisiana Avenue, creating what he called a "nightmare" commute that impacts air quality and safety throughout the region.

"When you get to red light at Addis Lane, turn red by the time it turns green, you get to the next red light, it turns red, and it can continue to cycle," Summers told the council.

The concerns came just as one of the area's most significant traffic changes in decades took effect. As WBR Independent reported earlier this week, the existing LA-1 northbound bridge permanently closed Thursday night, with all northbound traffic diverted to a newly constructed exit ramp on the north side of the new LA-1 Intracoastal Bridge.

Immediate Solutions Sought

While awaiting the major connector project, Summers called for coordination between West Baton Rouge Parish, municipalities, DOTD, and the Capital Region Planning Commission to study immediate traffic flow improvements.

Summers suggested exploring alternatives beyond signal timing, including roundabouts and other traffic management solutions that could improve both safety and air quality by reducing idling vehicles.

Two Major Projects, Different Timelines

The traffic concerns highlight two separate but related infrastructure initiatives affecting the Highway 1 corridor. The immediate LA-1 Intracoastal Bridge project, with a total cost of $57.7 million, involves replacing the existing bridge with a new structure featuring three 12-foot travel lanes and 10-foot shoulders. This project has faced delays, including unexpected settlement issues in early 2023, but construction resumed in August 2024.

The longer-term solution is the LA-1/LA-415 Connector Project, a $126.3 million infrastructure initiative designed to address exactly the congestion and safety issues Summers described. This project involves constructing a 3-mile, four-lane divided roadway extending south from I-10 at the LA Highway 415 exit, crossing the Intracoastal Waterway, and connecting to North Line Road and LA Highway 1.

However, this solution has been more than five decades in the making. The connector project dates back to at least 1972 when West Baton Rouge Parish government first included it in the master plan, meaning residents have been waiting over 50 years for relief from Highway 1 congestion.

Construction on the LA-415 connector is expected to begin in late 2025 or early 2026, with substantial completion anticipated by late 2028. The project received crucial federal funding in December 2023, including an $88.3 million federal loan through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA), supplementing an additional $38 million in federal funding.

Meanwhile, the current bridge replacement project will continue with a second phase involving removal of both existing original bridges and construction of a new northbound bridge, along with replacing frontage roads on the south side of the bridge.

Current Infrastructure Strain

The existing Intracoastal Waterway Bridge is more than 50 years old, rated 'F' for service, and presents significant safety risks. The aging infrastructure serves as both a daily commuter route and a major hurricane evacuation route for approximately 120,000 residents.

Safety Concerns Amid Major Changes

Summers' timing proved particularly relevant, as his comments came on the same night that thousands of commuters were preparing for permanently altered traffic patterns. He raised safety concerns about drivers accelerating between unsynchronized lights, noting that "by the time somebody gets from Avenue D to right over here, Louisiana Avenue, they're probably going 60, 70 miles an hour."

While acknowledging that Port Allen Police Department issues tickets for speeding, Summers emphasized the danger trying to cross Highway 1. These concerns align with broader infrastructure challenges, as DOTD has warned that travel delays are expected with the new bridge configuration, especially during peak commuting hours when traffic volume is heaviest.

Parish Response

Parish President Jason Manola confirmed that he and Mayor Scot Rhodes have ongoing discussions with DOTD about Traffic Lights Synchronization along the entire Highway 1 corridor. Council Chairman Carey Denstel noted that Senator Rick Edmonds is also working on traffic improvement projects, while Council Vice Chairman Alan Crowe added that Senator Caleb Kleinpeter is working on the same project.

Current Projects Progress

In other business, the council voted to cancel their July 10, 2025 regular meeting due to National Conference conflicts affecting multiple council members.

The council also received updates on the LA-415 project itself, with 30% completion expected by September 2025 and final plans projected for late 2026. The project continues to advance through DOTD's traffic and geometric review process.

The traffic concerns highlight the daily reality facing residents as the parish manages multiple infrastructure transitions while working toward long-term solutions. With over 44,700 vehicles daily using infrastructure designed for far less capacity, the synchronization issues raised by Summers represent a broader challenge affecting commuters across West Baton Rouge and neighboring parishes.

Representative Tanner Magee and Senator Rick Ward III co-authored House Bill 578 to secure funding for the connector project, which has received support from multiple organizations including the Capital Region Planning Commission, Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission, West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, and St. James Parish Council.

The project's lengthy timeline—from 1972 master plan inclusion to anticipated 2028 completion—illustrates the complex challenges of major infrastructure development and the persistence required to address regional transportation needs.

The West Baton Rouge Parish Council meets on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the WBR Governmental Building, 880 N. Alexander Avenue, Port Allen.