By MOLLY DRYMAN

Staff Reporter

ST. ROSE – The Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is scheduled to open bids today for the U.S. 61 Safety Improvements Phase 2 Project.

The U.S. 61 route, in St. Charles, runs 4.75 miles approximately from St. Rose to Norco. The estimated cost of this project is around $400,000.

“The purpose of this project is to make the travel along U.S. 61 safer,” said Osmond Hansen, project engineer. “U-turn and left turn lanes will be added in order to minimize accidents and cause less problems for other motorists.”

This project includes the closing of five cross-overs, upgrading four existing cross-overs and constructing two new cross-overs. Also, two new turn lanes will be constructed and one existing turn lane will be lengthened, according to Hansen.

Bids will be accepted on this project until 8 a.m. and will open at 10 a.m. today. After the bids are in, the “lowest bid from a qualified contractor will be accepted,” said Hansen.

According to Hansen, the project should begin a couple of months after a contractor is chosen, then the DOTD will decide what date the project will start by issuing a notice to proceed.