tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529978078073998654.post936135149691678757..comments2023-11-09T04:37:33.603-08:00Comments on Lafayette Connector Comments: Public comment from 16 years ago documents our citizens' struggle against the I-49 Con Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529978078073998654.post-57499507158234374322017-05-13T11:11:59.547-07:002017-05-13T11:11:59.547-07:00Sorry, but Mrs. Caldwell's letter is as much a...Sorry, but Mrs. Caldwell's letter is as much a half-truth then as it is now.<br /><br />The problem is that the Teche Ridge Bypass would not and cannot avoid crossing some portion of Cypress Swamp, especially to the west of Breaux Bridge; and that the portions that would pass to the east of Cypress Swamp would impact some homes. Not to mention, those cane fields actually do provide economic growth to St. Martin Parish. <br /><br />Mrs. Caldwell's assertion of cost savings from Teche Ridge versus the Connector freeway are also overestimated. In 2002, LADOTD did an analysis of the Baker study of Teche Ridge, and found that the actual cost for construction of that alternative was (in 2002 USD) approximately $601 million, which was more than the $400 million that was asserted by her group back then. At that time, $601 million was approximately the cost of combining the original cost of constructing the Connector freeway as approved in the 2003 ROD and the segment immediately south of it (from the airport to LA 88). Given inflation and the increased development, it's clear that the costs for building Teche Ridge have increased in relative terms.<br /><br />Every other claim in Mrs. Caldwell's letter about the impact of the Connector freeway is as overblown now as it was then. No portion of Sterling Grove is even touched by the project ROW, other than a direct visual impact for the St. Genevieve Catholic Church/School vicinity, which is actually lessened and more easily mitigated by the proposed refinements of the current study alternatives. The displacements of houses and businesses along the current Evangeline Thruway can be easily handled through moving houses to the proximate neighborhoods bordering the ROW. And, there are protocols and procedures already in place to protect the Chicot Aquifer and clean up the old Southern Pacific rail yard site.<br /><br />Again, some actual truth rather than reaching for past emotions would be more than helpful.<br />Anthony Kennersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00103420620416144653noreply@blogger.com