Vermilion Parish Police Jury gets grant to help straighten out curve south of Erath

There is a curve south of Erath on La. 331 that drivers have to slow down to 25 miles per hour in order to make the curve. By the end of 2016, that curve will be gone and a less dangerous curve will replace it.
For the last two months, the police jury has been working on a project to rebuild a curve at the intersection of La. 331 and Caldwell Avenue near the Henry Hub Gas Plant.
The police jury applied for a $750,000 Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) grant nearly seven years ago. The police jury was seeking funds to straighten out the curve. A CIAP grant can only be used to help the oil and gas industry.
The police jury stated in its application that this curve was used by oil and gas trucks and vehicles who work at the Henry Hub. The police jury was finally awarded the grant this year.
The police jury is using land owned by the School Board to build a 200-yard long two lane road. There will still be a curve but now vehicles can travel safely on the curve driving 45 miles per hour.
Errol Domingues is the police juror for that area. He is also the sugar cane farmer who has land next to the curve. When there are new oil wells being drilled south of the curve, there is an increase of accidents because those working on the drilling rigs are not familiar with the curve and drive off it into the sugar cane field.
“It is a good thing,” said Domingues. “It gets rid of a dangerous curve.”