L’Observateur / June 1, 1998

BATON ROUGE – Gramercy and LaPlace could soon see major improvements, as resolutions sponsored by Rep. Bobby Faucheux have been approved by theLegislature.

House Concurrent Resolution 27, filed at the request of the St. JamesParish Council and the Gramercy Police Department, asks the state highway department to turn over to the police department a building acquired in May 1994 as rights-of-way were purchased for street improvements.

The building, an empty former convenience store, is to be used as the new police headquarters.

“The building is public property, but it is not being used in the most efficient manner,” Faucheux commented. “Instead of letting the buildingsit idle, why not let the Gramercy Police Department put it to use?” Also, House Concurrent Resolution 23 asks the Department of Transportation and Development to place the extension of Bayou Steel Road (Louisiana Highway 3217) on its priority list for the 1999-2000 fiscal year.

The road would loop toward U.S. Highway 51, diverting heavy truck trafficaway from downtown LaPlace and toward Interstates 10 and 55, intersecting U.S. 51 at Woodland Drive.The resolution also calls for pursuing funds for the study, design and construction of the highway.

“Traffic in LaPlace and most River Parish towns is becoming more and more congested as the region grows,” he said. “Not only would thisproposed highway help alleviate traffic jams, it would also facilitate a smoother evacuation in the event of a hurricane, industrial accident or some other catastrophe.”

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