Construction on another Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) Transportation Infrastructure Model for Economic Development (TIMED) project will soon be underway in north central Louisiana.

“Construction on a 7.1-mile project on U.S. 167 between Lillie and the Arkansas state line will begin this month,” said Bryan Jones, TIMED Program spokesperson. “Construction crews will be on site in the next few weeks clearing for utility relocation and for construction of the new lanes.”

This segment of U.S. 167 is being widened from two lanes to a four-lane divided section — four driving lanes with a median. Serving southbound traffic, the new lanes will parallel the existing alignment except for a one mile long section of new four-lane roadway. There will be a short transition to a five-lane urban section — four driving lanes with a center turning lane — at the northern end of the project. The project is being constructed by Denton-James LLC which was the lowest qualified bidder on this project with a bid of $28.1 million.

“Utility construction will continue along this segment and then crews will finalize clearing and begin constructing the new travel lanes,” Jones said. “The entire project is scheduled to take approximately 24 months to complete.”

The four-laning of U.S. 167 is one of several transportation projects included in the TIMED Program. The TIMED Program is the single largest transportation program in state history. The $4.6 billion program includes 16 specific transportation projects that include four-laning 536 miles of state highways, widening and /or new construction on three major bridges and improvements to both the Port of New Orleans and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. The program is designed to enhance economic development in Louisiana through an investment in transportation projects and is funded by a dedicated 4-cent per gallon gasoline and motor fuels tax. The Program was created by Act 16 of the 1989 Louisiana Legislature and was approved by a vote of the people.

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