Harlan Kirgan
When Gov. John Bel Edwards released the annual list of projects the surprise for Eunice residents surely was that $1.8 million for the overlay of La. 91 — Maple Avenue — had been cleared.
For years Eunice city officials had sent resolutions to governors seeking the overlay project.
In the interim, the road kept deteriorating.
Drainage work and a new bridge were installed on the west end of Maple Avenue just before Bobcat Drive in project completed in 2018.
But the overlay project was vetoed in 2018 by Edwards.
At Tuesday’s Board of Alderman’s meeting, state Rep. Phillip DeVillier made his first comments since the July 1 public release of the state’s capital outlay projects.
“I know personally that every person on this council it was extremely important to them. I know the phone calls I got for years. Look, I can remember Mr. Jack Burson, he is not here I guess, but he deserves as much credit as any. I mean the the man stayed on me continuously to get this project done,” DeVillier said.
“Mayor Fontenot, you called. Ms Germaine Simpson, you called. We had meetings outside this body. So, it is we that got Highway 91 overlaid as far as funding,” DeVillier said.
DeVillier was at the meeting with Bill Oliver, state Department of Transportation and Development district engineer administrator, to talk about Eunice road projects.
“The important part is it is funded, right. But we need to see it through. We need to make sure it actually happens because that capital outlay money is earmarked we need to make sure it gets spent on 91,” DeVillier said.
The design process takes 10 to 24 months, Oliver said.
“Our goal will be to spend the entire allotment of that money on this project,” he said.
“That is going to be our goal because anything that we leave on the pavement disappears,” he said.
Alderman Ernie Blanchard thanks Oliver for the new bridge on La. 91.
Oliver said the city is responsible for its utilities, such as sewer lines, that need to be moved for the road project.
Oliver also explained the state DOTD’s Right Sizing program that involved local government taking over state roads, bridges and drainage in exchange for a payout for the state.
In Eunice, College Road and the old Crowley highway are targeted for the Right Sizing program.
The state would repair the roads, estimate the cost of repairs for 40 years and then reach an agreement with the city which would include the payout and how the city would spend the money.
Oliver said the state attempts to use federal money in the Right Sizing program.
DeVillier clarified with Oliver what’s at stake and asked Oliver what’s the possibility of the two roads getting funded.
“Very unlikely,” Oliver said.
There are about 2,400 miles of road in his district and there is about a 100-year cycle on repairs, he said.