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Nov 11, 2023

Proposed project would add lighting to I

Businesses and vehicle traffic at the Interstate 49 and Harry Guilbeau road

Businesses and vehicle traffic at the Interstate 49 and Harry Guilbeau road interchange may soon experience a more illuminated environment after the completion of a proposed area lighting project, scheduled to start within the next month.

The completion of the project, which includes spending $137,000 for high- and low-mast lighting, is the first major infrastructure initiative of the St. Landry Parish Central Economic District, which was created in 2017 to oversee infrastructure upgrades for the I-49 corridor located south of Opelousas.

A 1-cent sales tax collected within the district's boundaries since Jan. 1 is also enabling contracted grass cutting to be done along the interstate between U.S. 190 and Harry Guilbeau. In addition, the district has used the tax funding for litter abatement.

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The seven-member Economic Joint Commission met Thursday morning to discuss the lighting, grass cutting and litter collections. The commission members are chosen by Parish President Bill Fontenot, the St. Landry Parish Council and Opelousas Mayor Reggie Tatum.

Much of the lighting along I-49, which was installed decades ago, is now inoperable, and commission members have said that retrofitting the existing poles with LED lighting at all the interstate interchanges between 190 and Harry Guilbeau is a major objective.

Chairman Buddy Helton told the commission on Thursday that the Harry Guilbeau project for the eight light fixtures could be completed by the end of 2018.

Bill Rodier, executive director for the St. Landry Economic And Development District, told the commission that the lighting projects, including the one destined for Harry Guilbeau, could encounter some additional problems, because much of the wiring is underground.

Helton said grass cutting has been ongoing twice monthly at a cost of $6,400. The district is also paying for litter abatement that has been done with the assistance of the Sheriff's Department.

The lighting, grass cutting and litter are the cornerstone projects for the corridor which has seen increased economic development during the past year.

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In addition to the completion of Giles Nissan Automotive on the south service road, Our Savior's Church in Opelousas launched a $12 million project to construct a new worship center and sell additional retail outlet lots on the north service road.

Rodier said a sign designating the site of a Honda automotive dealership near the Our Savior's Church project is visible. Later this year, Brown's Furniture is scheduled to begin construction of a 50,000-square-foot mega store that will combine the current stores in Opelousas and Lafayette, he said.

The purpose of the infrastructure improvements to include the installment of roundabouts and larger turning lanes is to attract more business to the area, which Rodier said will become the "economic backbone of St. Landry."