By MOLLY DRYMAN

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE — Highway maintenance on an eight-mile stretch of Airline Highway is still causing delays in traffic for St. John the Baptist Parish drivers, but is expected to improve drainage when finished.

The construction was set to be finished in September, but Hurricane Katrina slowed down the process.

&#8220The project has been put on hold, because of the recovery efforts from the storm, which increased traffic flow,” said Project Engineer Charles &#8220Danny” Smith. &#8220Then sugar cane hauling season begun in October, which runs from the beginning of October to the end of January.”

Smith said even though the project has been put on hold they have not forgotten about it and as soon as time permits they will go back and finish it. All that is left is the overlaying of the roads, so once they start up again it should not take too long to finish.

Along with the installation of two underground drainage pipes across Airline Highway near LA 54 in Garyville, miscellaneous shoulder widening and construction of an inside shoulder will be completed, and the overlay will finish the project.

The estimated cost for the improvements is $4.1 million, according to Smith.

Speed limits have been reduced in the work areas for safety and Alternate traffic routes are I-10 and LA 44, or River Road.