WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |State troopers patrol road widening project

State troopers patrol road widening project

By Cheryl Mercedes - bio | email

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Louisiana troopers are closely watching drivers near the intersection of Perkins and Bluebonnet roads because some drivers are not obeying the temporary traffic laws that have been put in place while lanes are closed to make improvements along Perkins.

Troopers say drivers are giving them no choice but to hang out at the construction site. Lately, Perkins Road is no joke. In reality, it's a work in progress. These days, motorists must share the roadway with heavy duty machinery and workers trying to make a major turnaround. It's all in an effort to widen Perkins and add turning lanes, but some lanes must be closed from time to time before the ultimate goal can be reached.

Right now, drivers are forbidden from making right turns from Perkins onto Bluebonnet or from Bluebonnet onto Perkins. Not everyone pays attention to the new rule and some drivers are not shy about voicing their frustrations about that rule. "I have to go two blocks to make a right turn, if I want to make a turn. It's three or four blocks that way and it might throw me late," said Adam Southerland. "They need to be working 24 hours, around the clock, nighttime and daytime," said Terrance Brooks. "It's not good at all because traffic has to detour and a lot of people from out of town don't know where to go."

The signs are clear, but some motorists are still willing to take their chances. A camera crew set up at the location didn't stop drivers, one after the other, from making illegal right turns onto Bluebonnet. "That ‘No Right Turn' sign is there for a reason," said State Trooper Russell Graham. He says it all comes down to safety. Since many people will do whatever it takes to get by, troopers are now patrolling the intersection at different times of the day and night. "We've had a number of crashes in that area. So, we are going to keep enforcing it and trying to get people to pay attention," Graham added.

Troopers worked the intersection from 9:00 Sunday night to about 3:00 Monday morning, ticketing folks who broke the law. Reportedly, the intersection should be in normal working order by the end of the year.

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