WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Ramp meters going into effect on I-12

Ramp meters going into effect on I-12

By Tyana Williams - bio | email

DENHAM SPRINGS, LA (WAFB) - Is it possible bumper-to-bumper traffic on Interstate 12 could go away? The Department of Transportation and Development says the drive could ease up once they install some ramp meters. More than a dozen states already use the meters to control the number of cars that can get on the interstate.

From Essen to Walker, 16 on-ramps are set to get one of these meters. These ramp meters are basically a stop light, that will signal drivers when to continue on. DOTD says that should ease the congestion.

Range Avenue has seen it's fair share of traffic.  Every day, more than 39,000 cars roll over the street and onto I-12.  The problem is, thousands of other drivers are also doing the same. Creating a lengthy parking lot.

"It's not really an experiment we're trying.  We know that it works," says Sherry Dupre.  Dupre, who works for DOTD, says the solution to the traffic trouble is to add another traffic signal.  "It works and almost half the states across the nation use it."

The total cost of the project:$1.5 million.

"It'll let one car or two cars go at at time.  And it'll be just a matter of seconds.  Green light and then a red light."

Dupre cites the Twin Cities in Minnesota as the example.  A study shows the travel times there were unpredictable when the meters were turned off.  And the number of car accidents went up. When meters here are turned on, DOTD predicts morning travel times between Airline and Range would only take 18 minutes.  Evening commutes only eight minutes.

Starting next week, DOTD will start holding meetings to educate the public about how these ramp meters will work.  The schedule is as follows:

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