Update: Frenchtown Road and the Central Thruway

From David Barrow, Assistant to the Mayor's Office

There have been numerous questions from residents lately regarding the intersection of Frenchtown Rd and the Central Thruway due to the elevation of the Thruway.  Will there be an overpass? Will there be exit ramps from the Thruway? To answer these questions, here are the facts. 
 
    First, there will not be an overpass at this intersection.  It will be a regular 4-way intersection.  This section of Frenchtown Rd will actually have to be elevated to match the finished grade of the Central Thruway.  The City-Parish is scheduled to replace the Frenchtown Rd bridge over Beaver Bayou in conjunction with this project.  As a result, the section of Frenchtown Rd from the Central Thruway to just south of Geo-Je’s subdivision will be reconstructed and elevated as much as 10 feet to accommodate the new bridge.  This will involve having to completely close Frenchtown Rd for almost one year in this area while the new bridge is being built.
 
   Second, at the current time, the plans for the Frenchtown Rd / Central Thruway intersection do not call for a traffic signal.  The intersection is planned to be regulated by stop signs on the Frenchtown Rd approach.   However, I have been in touch with City-Parish Traffic Engineering officials, since the Thruway will be a Parish-maintained roadway, and requested that an updated study be done to request a traffic signal at this intersection.   Traffic counts taken in 2008 by the city of Central show that 3500 vehicles per day travel on Frenchtown Road.  The City-Parish has stated that they will do updated counts and modeling to determine a signal warrant.