Louisiana TIMED program advances project designs

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and Louisiana TIMED Managers (LTM) recently issued an additional 22 consultant contracts to finalize design along the major TIMED corridors.

"With these additional design contracts underway, the accelerated TIMED Program continues on a fast-track to completion," said Buddy Porta, DOTD TIMED program spokesperson. "The TIMED Program is on schedule to be complete by 2012, 20 years earlier than the original estimate."

The contracts include final design of segments on US 165, US 167, US 425 and the environmental assessment of the new Florida Avenue Bridge over the Industrial Canal (IHNC). These 22 contracts represent $16.8 million in engineering fees and are all expected to be complete within the next two years.

"With these consultant contracts underway, all of the TIMED Program projects are either complete, in pre-construction phases (environmental evaluation, design, right-of-way acquisition) or under construction," Porta said.

Additional TIMED Program information can be found online by going to www.timedla.com.

The TIMED Program is the single largest transportation program in state history. The $3.5 billion program includes 16 specific transportation projects that include four-laning 500 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 International Airport.

The program is designed to enhance economic development in Louisiana through an investment in transportation projects.