By Leonard Gray / L’Observateur / February 27, 1998

LULING – The traffic snarl at Willowdale Boulevard and U.S. Highway 90may see some relief soon, as the state highway department has given an OK for a red light there.

St. Charles Parish President Chris Tregre, along with Parish CouncilmenBill Sirmon and Dickie Duhe and Sen. Ron Landry, met with LouisianaDepartment of Transportation and Development Secretary Frank Denton on Feb. 4 to urge several red lights and state highway improvements acrossthe parish.

In a Feb. 19 written response, Denton told Tregre “Upon closer review, itwas determined that the signal at US 90 and Willowdale meets required warrant and could be approved. Therefore, by copy of this letter, I amauthorizing our Chief Engineer, Mr. Roddy Dillon, to proceed with thisinstallation as soon as possible.”Other requests, including U.S. 90 at WPA Road in Des Allemands, U.S. 90 atBayou Gauche Road in Paradis and somewhere between Lakewood Drive and Coronado Drive “have either not been studied or greater than two years elapsed since previous study,” Denton stated.

Two remaining requests were studied and failed to be recommended, including U.S. 90 at Tiger Drive in Mozella and the Willowdaleintersection, but Willowdale was approved on further review.

Tregre commented, “I appreciate him taking the time and interest to do this,” and added he will continue to push for the Tiger Drive traffic light.

He pointed out that the DOTD study preceded the opening of the Shoney’s Restaurant, which increased traffic at that location.

The Willowdale intersection is located 1/4 mile east of the Barton/Lakewood intersection where a traffic light is installed.

The St. Charles Parish Council has also called for a traffic light on RiverRoad in the vicinity of Longview Drive, Red Church Subdivision, Destrehan, and the construction of a turn lane on River Road between Ormond Boulevard and Interstate 310.

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