Southwest Louisiana has seen exponential growth in the past few decades. From large-scale industrial expansions to casino resorts and more, our area has experienced a steady population increase.
This is a great thing for our economy and future, but growth requires change. By looking at where we’re going and planning accordingly, we can reduce the “growing pains” for everyone.
As your police juror, I hope to help Calcasieu Parish plan with an eye on the future. I hope we can look beyond what we need today. Let's consider where we want to be and what we’ll need in 20 or 30 years!
What forward-thinking infrastructure has Southwest Louisiana already built?
When thinking about the future of Southwest Louisiana, let's first think back to the beneficial things we've already done.
Although there was an initial learning curve for all of us, roundabouts have helped alleviate some big traffic problems! Thanks to research by McNeese State University professors and positive proof of concept in other areas, we have embraced roundabouts as a means of keeping the traffic flowing without stop signs and red lights.
The first time I experienced a roundabout, I was in another city in a taxi. I was sure we were going to wreck! Now, I know how to yield and blend into flowing traffic. I know how useful roundabouts are in eliminating the backup caused by red lights and in keeping traffic flowing. I’m proud of our community for embracing this change as we all become adept at driving around them!
What work is being done now? We have several projects underway now that are designed to make our community a great place to live.
The Nelson Road Bridge and Extension Project is a $101.7 million project that works to extend Nelson Road, connecting it to West Sallier Street via a bridge. It will be much quicker for District 8 to access Downtown Lake Charles once this project is complete!
The Contraband Point Development Project will feature both retail shops and restaurants as well as housing. With such close proximity to the interstate, casinos, and several hotels, this development will bring even more life to this busy area.
Bayou Greenbelt is a fabulous project that will help connect the people of Southwest Louisiana to the beautiful nature around us! This project was selected by the National Park Service in March of 2021 as a part of their Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program (RTA). With the help of this program, I am confident my grandchildren will grow up in a thriving, community-based SWLA that is full of outdoor activities!
What work needs to be done? Let's think long-term. I believe we should build for where we're going, not for where we already are!
Develop infrastructure first. I would like to encourage our local government entities to develop infrastructure prior to developing neighborhoods and business districts. Planned development is more effective, more efficient and less expensive than the difficult process of retrofitting infrastructure like transportation, drainage and roads. (Remember how painful it was to have Prien Lake Road AND Weaver closed at the same time in 2022?) Our portion of the parish is growing rapidly, and I’d love to get ahead of those needs (rather than playing the painful game of catch-up). As I said in the American Press, as a police juror, I hope to look at the big picture – not just this intersection or this sidewalk – but what are the ripple effects? How can we make our roads work for everyone who uses them? For example, planned LNG facilities will bring much-needed jobs and revenues…but also traffic to my district. Let’s prepare to make the most of this opportunity by staying ahead of the curve. Are our roads ready for the number of additional people using them? How can we minimize impacts to the neighborhoods along the way and improve traffic flow for them? Projects like these deserve a dose of innovation engineering – finding the best solution by looking worldwide, beyond our parish, and making it even better when we implement it here. I want to see Calcasieu Parish become that gold standard.
Pursue mutually beneficial public-private partnerships. Done well, these partnerships allow all stakeholders to join in support of a common goal. In my humble opinion, a good partnership can produce more efficient and effective outcomes, as well as increase opportunities for development and investment in our communities.
We are a community of good people, good food and good families. I look forward to teaching my grandchildren to love Southwest Louisiana as much as I do. I can’t wait to see how our community flourishes in the years to come!
*Thanks to Matthew Lundmark at Lundmark Creative for helping bring this video to life!
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