DOTD wants to give 3 roads to Erath

ERATH - The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is wanting to donate to the town of Erath certain roads in the city limits as a way to remove the roads from the state’s care.
The Erath Aldermen and Erath Mayor John Earl LeBlanc got an update from engineer Todd Vincent of Sellers and Associates in reference to the roads being donated to the town.
DOTD would like to give part of Lastie Street (the old La. 14) , part of La. 685 (South Broadway) and part of La. 339 to the town of Erath.
In exchange, DOTD would repair and upgrade the three roads and then give Erath $1.5 million of credit to repair or resurface roads in Erath.
Once DOTD does all that, the upkeep of the three roads would be the town’s responsibility forever.
Todd Vincent said he and the mayor met with DOTD officials and talked extensively about how bad South Broadway is and what could the state do to upgrade and repair the road.
The aldermen said until DOTD reroutes 18-wheelers from traveling down South Broadway, the road will continue to be torn up.
Alderman Chris Hebert said as long as the heavy sugar cane trucks continue to drive down South Broadway through town, they will continue to destroy South Broadway, even after the state has resurfaced and repaired it. If the state agrees to create a new truck route, off a South Broadway, then Hebert said he will be in favor of accepting the three roads.
Alderman “T-Bob” Domingue said large trucks should turn on Isadore Road before they come into the city limits. The problem with that is that they would have to deal with the curve at the intersection of South Broadway and Isadore Road.
Vincent made the request to DOTD about improving the radius on the curve in order for 18-wheelers to turn easier.
“That would take care of the truck traffic?,” said Domingue. “The foundation on Broadway is not right.”
“We are trying to get the trucks off of Broadway,” said Vincent.
The aldermen will wait and see what DOTD will do about the truck route before they vote on accepting the roads.