I-49 LAFAYETTE CONNECTOR
ACADIANA’S PATH FORWARD
*Conceptual design: not actual rendering
Engage in conversation. Learn about the possibilities. Design the Lafayette Connector, together.
About the Project
The I-49 Lafayette Connector is a future 5.5-mile segment of highway that will extend I-49 from I-10 to the Lafayette Regional Airport. It is a critical transportation link for Lafayette and the state as a whole. The I-49 Lafayette Connector is a key component of I-49 South, which will function as a critical hurricane evacuation route, complete a major energy and trade corridor to the nation and enhance safety by providing new interstate connectivity within the Lafayette region and to New Orleans. For more information about the project and planning, visit the Project Overview.
Our Philosophy
The I-49 Lafayette Connector project is an initiative rooted in community collaboration. It presents the opportunity to revitalize and beautify Lafayette’s gateway, strengthen infrastructure and improve safety and multi-modal transportation, all while preserving the community’s cherished, historic and business districts. It truly represents Acadiana’s path forward.
Project Update
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), along with national, state, regional and local partners, are moving forward with the Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) process for the I-49 Lafayette Connector Project.
In 2019, the former CSS Community Working Group (CWG) and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) combined into the Lafayette Connector Advisory Group (LCAG) to provide a forum for the coordinated community and technical input for the CSS process. This process focuses on gathering input from key stakeholders about various design features to help develop the I-49 Lafayette Connector Design Guidelines.
Over the last several months, the I-49 Lafayette Connector Advisory Group has participated in an introductory meeting and three of six planned workshops. The two-part workshops allow LCAG members to review elements of the Connector, including the mainline structure, signature bridge, gateway elements, and joint understructure use. Workshops will continue into 2021. More information from the meetings can be found in the Project Library.
The LCAG is one of several formats used for collecting feedback. DOTD is actively seeking input from other stakeholders and the community at large. Planning for neighborhood and public meetings is already underway.
To involve more stakeholders in the process, DOTD has created the I-49 Virtual Meeting website, a virtual reality “room” that allows the community to envision design proposals for the Connector. The website features a VR scale model of the 5.5-mile I-49 Connector. The immersive experience allows viewers to see how structural components like walls, barriers, and piers could look with different proposed designs.
Stay Informed
DOTD Launches Virtual Reality Website of I-49 Lafayette Connector
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), along with national, state, regional and local partners, are moving forward with the ...
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Update: DOTD advises motorists of field testing along US 167
Update: DOTD advises motorists of field testing along US 167 The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development advises that crews will ...
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As early as 1888, Lafayette residents were avid bicyclists. Frank Moss is pictured here with his penny-farthing, the first machine to be called a “bicycle.”
Trains have always been essential modes of transportation. In 1855, Morgan’s great iron horse, “The Sabine,” was the first train to carry passengers from Houston, TX, to New Orleans. In 1949, Southern Pacific built the first diesel engine train to travel the same route.
Reminder: Our Willow Street Neighborhood Meeting will be held this Saturday, April 24 from 9:30 to 11 am at Destiny of Faith Church. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP at lafayetteconnector.com/neighborhood-meeting-sign-up/If you live in the Willow Street area, the I-49 Lafayette Connector team is interested in hearing from you! Anyone who lives in this area near the Evangeline Thruway is invited to sign up and join us at Destiny of Faith Church on Saturday, April 24 from 9:30 am to 11 am to provide input and address any questions, comments or concerns you may have about the I-49 Lafayette Connector Project. If you would like to attend, please sign up via the link below. lafayetteconnector.com/neighborhood-meeting-sign-up/
Reminder! Our next two Neighborhood Meetings will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week for the members of the Freetown-Port Rico Neighborhood. If you are interested in attending, please sign up at lafayetteconnector.com/neighborhood-meeting-sign-up/The I-49 Lafayette Connector team will be holding two meetings at Rosa Parks Transportation Center for Freetown Port-Rico neighborhood residents on Tuesday, April 20th from 10:30 am - 12 pm and Wednesday, April 21st from 4:30 pm - 6 pm. During the meetings, we will be asking for community input and feedback on the I-49 Lafayette Connector Project as well as answering any of your questions, comments or concerns. If you live in this neighborhood and are interested in attending one of these meetings, please visit the link below to sign up. lafayetteconnector.com/neighborhood-meeting-sign-up/
Just a reminder that our next Neighborhood Meeting will be held this Saturday, 4/17/21 at Fightingville Fresh. If you live in the La Place/Fightingville/Townfolk area and are interested in contributing to this project, feel free to join us; no RSVP required!Next week, the I-49 Lafayette Connector Team will be holding two meetings for all members of the LaPlace neighborhood. During the meetings, we will be asking for community input and feedback on the I-49 Lafayette Connector Project. The first meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 13 from 3 pm to 5 pm. The second meeting will be on Saturday, April 17 from 12 pm to 3 pm. Both meetings will be held at Fightingville Fresh. If you live in the LaPlace neighborhood and are interested in contributing to this project, feel free to join us; no RSVP required.
Reminder! Our Kaliste Saloom Neighborhood Meetings are happening now! If you missed the first one, feel free to join us online or in person for the second one at noon. Sign up to attend at lafayetteconnector.com/neighborhood-meeting-sign-up/.If you live in the Kaliste Saloom area, we want to hear from you! Next Thursday, April 15, the I-49 Lafayette Connector team invites anyone who lives in the Kaliste Saloom area to join us at Vermilionville to discuss any questions, comments or concerns you may have about the I-49 Lafayette Connector Project. There will be two sessions: one from 11 am to 12 pm, and another from 12 pm to 1 pm. If you live in the Kaliste Saloom area and are interested in attending, please visit the link below to sign up. lafayetteconnector.com/neighborhood-meeting-sign-up/
Reminder! Our Sterling Grove Neighborhood Meeting is happening TONIGHT! If you are interested in attending, please sign up at lafayetteconnector.com/neighborhood-meeting-sign-up/.If you live in the Sterling Grove Historic District, the I-49 Lafayette Connector team is interested in hearing from you! Next week, the team is inviting anyone who lives in the Sterling Grove neighborhood to join us at the Downtown Public Library to discuss any questions, comments or concerns you may have about the I-49 Lafayette Connector Project. There will be two sessions; the first will be held on Tuesday, April 13 from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm, and the second on Wednesday, April 14 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. If you live in the Sterling Grove neighborhood and would like to attend, please sign up via the link below. lafayetteconnector.com/neighborhood-meeting-sign-up/
Today’s neighborhood meeting at the Fightingville Fresh Farmer’s Market has been postponed due to the weather. LaPlace, Fightingville and Townfolk residents will still have the opportunity to ask questions and provide input and feedback on the I-49 Lafayette Connector project at Fightingville Fresh this Saturday, April 17th. Additional updates are to come.
If you live in the Willow Street area, the I-49 Lafayette Connector team is interested in hearing from you! Anyone who lives in this area near the Evangeline Thruway is invited to sign up and join us at Destiny of Faith Church on Saturday, April 24 from 9:30 am to 11 am to provide input and address any questions, comments or concerns you may have about the I-49 Lafayette Connector Project. If you would like to attend, please sign up via the link below. lafayetteconnector.com/neighborhood-meeting-sign-up/
The I-49 Lafayette Connector team will be holding two meetings at Rosa Parks Transportation Center for Freetown Port-Rico neighborhood residents on Tuesday, April 20th from 10:30 am - 12 pm and Wednesday, April 21st from 4:30 pm - 6 pm. During the meetings, we will be asking for community input and feedback on the I-49 Lafayette Connector Project as well as answering any of your questions, comments or concerns. If you live in this neighborhood and are interested in attending one of these meetings, please visit the link below to sign up. lafayetteconnector.com/neighborhood-meeting-sign-up/
If you live in the Kaliste Saloom area, we want to hear from you! Next Thursday, April 15, the I-49 Lafayette Connector team invites anyone who lives in the Kaliste Saloom area to join us at Vermilionville to discuss any questions, comments or concerns you may have about the I-49 Lafayette Connector Project. There will be two sessions: one from 11 am to 12 pm, and another from 12 pm to 1 pm. If you live in the Kaliste Saloom area and are interested in attending, please visit the link below to sign up. lafayetteconnector.com/neighborhood-meeting-sign-up/
Next week, the I-49 Lafayette Connector Team will be holding two meetings for all members of the LaPlace neighborhood. During the meetings, we will be asking for community input and feedback on the I-49 Lafayette Connector Project. The first meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 13 from 3 pm to 5 pm. The second meeting will be on Saturday, April 17 from 12 pm to 3 pm. Both meetings will be held at Fightingville Fresh. If you live in the LaPlace neighborhood and are interested in contributing to this project, feel free to join us; no RSVP required.
If you live in the Sterling Grove Historic District, the I-49 Lafayette Connector team is interested in hearing from you! Next week, the team is inviting anyone who lives in the Sterling Grove neighborhood to join us at the Downtown Public Library to discuss any questions, comments or concerns you may have about the I-49 Lafayette Connector Project. There will be two sessions; the first will be held on Tuesday, April 13 from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm, and the second on Wednesday, April 14 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. If you live in the Sterling Grove neighborhood and would like to attend, please sign up via the link below. lafayetteconnector.com/neighborhood-meeting-sign-up/
Next week, The I-49 Lafayette Connector team is inviting all residents of the McComb-Veazey neighborhood to meet with us at the Downtown Public Library. To provide more opportunities for residents to attend, we will host two meetings. The first will take place on Tuesday, April 13 from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, and the second will be held Wednesday, April 14 from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Meetings are open to only residents of the McComb-Veazey neighborhood. If you live in this neighborhood and are interested in attending, please visit the link below to sign up. lafayetteconnector.com/neighborhood-meeting-sign-up/
On Wednesday, September 23, 2020, a fourth Section 106 meeting was held to provide an update on the Standing Structures Inventory and to introduce Assessing Effects. View the presentation here: bit.ly/2XE7zR9
Want to know more? To follow the progress of the I-49 Lafayette Connector, register to receive e-mail newsletters. Visit bit.ly/3bBegeZ to sign up.
Does your neighborhood, church or organization want more first-hand information about the I-49 Connector project? Visit bit.ly/39y4BDt to request a speaker to address your group.
Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) is an interdisciplinary approach to the design and planning of a transportation facility like the Lafayette Connector. The CSS process involves all stakeholders, including community members, interest groups, elected officials, and affected local, state and federal agencies. To learn more about CSS, visit bit.ly/3bCWHLO.
The Lafayette Connector is a critical part of Louisiana DOTD’s I-49 Geaux South program. Geaux South is a major construction initiative that will transform the U.S. 90 corridor into I-49 South. The 160-mile interstate highway will stretch from the I-10/I-49 junction in Lafayette to the Westbank Expressway in New Orleans. To learn more about the role of the connector, visit bit.ly/3nCH4X3.
During Workshop #3, the Lafayette Connector Advisory Group looked at understructure development options for the I-49 Connector. Understructures are areas of ground-level right-of-way that can serve many purposes. Some cities, like Dallas, Texas, use these spaces for dog parks.
Our DOTD Agency Partners
