By ALTON “PETE” LANDRY, LAPLACE

Dear Editor: I’m not sure what the State Department of Highway’s motive behind re-striping and changing the traffic signals at the Hemlock Street and Carrollwood Drive/Airline Highway intersection. This intersection seemed to work fine before, but it is now a zoo.

During high traffic periods, cars on Hemlock are backed up to West Fifth, most waiting to cross Airline or turn right. I’ve also been on the Carrollwood Drive side during peak traffic periods, and it backs up past the intersection with Dominican Drive. This didn’t happen with the way the Airline intersection was before the Highway department changed it.

I’ve seen many very frustrated drivers on Hemlock who want to turn left get blocked by drivers waiting in line to cross or turn right onto Airline.

I’ve seen fists raised and horns blowing agressively. Road rage will happen sooner or later. And why? What improvements have resulted from these changes? I don’t see anything but frustration and gridlock! If Hemlock and Carrollwood Drive were one lane wider as they intersect Airline, the current arrangement might work; but as it exists today, it can’t and probably never will.

I have called my councilmen about this problem. They indicate they’ve been inundated with complaint calls from frustrated motorists and vow to write to the State Department of Highways. I urge all motorists who have been affected by these changes to call their parish councilman and the Parish President and complain also. If enough voices are heard, maybe they’ll change it back the was it was.