Petition to Delay Bluff Road Culvert Replacement Until After the School Year

To: Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development

We, the undersigned residents and parents, respectfully request that the Bluff Road culvert replacement project be postponed until after the end of the current school year.

While we understand the importance of infrastructure improvements, the timing of this project will significantly disrupt our community:

School Bus Disruptions
Extended bus routes will require students to wake up much earlier and disrupt delicately balanced schedules for hundreds of families in our community.
Longer ride times will impact students’ rest, focus, and academic performance.

Traffic and Safety Concerns
Detours will reroute traffic through the heavily traveled intersection at Louisiana Highway 73 and I-10.  Increased congestion at this already busy interchange raises concerns about delays for the general public as well as potential accidents, especially during peak school hours.

Request for Temporary Alternatives
We ask DOTD to consider interim solutions that would maintain traffic flow until school is out, such as:

• Slip lining the existing culvert
• Phased construction that keeps at least one lane open
• Temporary reinforcement or stabilization measures
• Scheduling major closures during school breaks

Delaying the project by a short period would significantly reduce hardship for students and families while still allowing necessary improvements to move forward.

We respectfully ask the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to rearrange plans for this project to better serve our community and our students!