Baton Rouge, La. – On November 29, 2023 Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome and the MOVEBR Program celebrated the opening of Ben Hur Intersection at Nicholson Drive. The project consisted of realigning the roadway to create a safer intersection at Nicholson Drive, closing the existing railroad crossing and the opening of a new one with railroad crossing arms. The new two-lane roadway consists of two 12-foot travel lanes and a 5-foot shoulder; it will allow for safer ingress and egress across the railroad crossing. Mayor Broome stated, “This roadway is a key artery for individuals traveling in this area, and roadway safety is a key element of the MOVEBR program.”
The realignment is in preparation for the future widening of Nicholson Drive. The project required coordination between the City-Parish, the Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development, Louisiana State University, CN Railroad, and the pipeline companies to bring this project to completion.
The project was designed by Forte & Tablada; environmental permitting and construction inspection by Sustainable Design Solutions, a local small business; and constructed by Omega Foundation Services.
The MOVEBR Transportation and Infrastructure Improvements Program is the most significant transportation infrastructure investment in East Baton Rouge Parish history. The 1/2-cent sales tax proposition was approved by the voters of East Baton Rouge Parish on December 8, 2018. Proceeds of the tax can only be spent on the approved list of projects.
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