By JESSICA DAIGLE

Staff Reporter

RESERVE — An upcoming highway maintenance project will cause some anticipated delays in traffic for St. John the Baptist Parish drivers, but is expected to improve drainage when finished.

According to the Louisiana Department of Transportation Development, the installation of two underground drainage pipes across Airline Highway near LA 54 in Garyville is set to begin weather permitting. The project limits will stretch from East St. John High approximately eight miles to the St. James Parish line.

A cold plane and asphalt overlay will finish the roadwork.

According to Charles “Danny” Smith, project engineer, the task is expected to be completed sometime in September, and will take place seven days a week.

The report from the DOTD said the construction will be worked on in phases, starting with work closing the right lane of the westbound side. Phase

Two works on the inside lanes of both sides as well as the median, and the maintenance ends with the far right lane in the eastbound lane closing.

Each phase is expected to last about two weeks, with predicted traffic delays of 10 to 20 minutes.

According to Smith, the estimated cost of the undertaking is $4.1 million. He said the DOTD has already completed some installment of cross drains in the area, and these complete the overall project.

“We’ve got drainage from the river to the lakeside,” Smith said, “and this is being put in to increase the flow capabilities across Airline.”

The speed limit will be reduced in the work areas. Recent road construction sites have seen an enforcement of the speed limit by the St. John Sheriff’s Department when highway workers are present. Alternate traffic routes are I-10 and LA 44, or River Road