By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

ST. JAMES — St. James Parish President Timmy Roussel is ready for Thursday’s Louisiana Department of Transportation public hearing addressing the 2015-16 Preliminary Highway Program.

Roussel said the annual meeting gives him and other parish administrators the opportunity to push for needed parish roadwork.

“We come together with recommendations to address our greatest highway needs as we see them,” Roussel said. “I think it is of utmost importance to make sure our delegation is aware of our needs and our presence is known at this venue.”

Roussel said on the west bank of St. James Parish, he will push for an extension of the present left turn lane on Highway 3127 onto Highway 20 going south. Additionally, he said a right turn lane is needed on Highway 20 at the intersection of Highway 3127 due to traffic congestion.

On the east bank of the parish, Roussel said a high priority is the overlay of Highway 3125 from Highway 3214 to Highway 3213 due to road deterioration.

Roussel and other parish administrators will go to the Oct. 30 hearing with a list of 19 total highway priorities for St. James Parish, Lutcher and Gramercy.

The 9 a.m. meeting will take place at the State Capitol Basement, House Committee Room 1, in Baton Rouge.

The purpose of the public hearing — conducted by the Joint Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee — is to review highway construction priorities for the fiscal year 2015-2016. Public comments made during the hearings will be officially recorded and submitted to the committee for review and consideration in future years.