Lake Charles City Council members voted on Wednesday to allow the city to enter an agreement with the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury in which the two would split the $17 million cost of improvements to West Prien Lake Road south of Cove Lane and some on Sale Road.
City Administrator John Cardone said the area is experiencing heavy traffic because of the Cove Lane interchange, which opened in 2015. He said the project will consist of widening West Prien Lake, adding sidewalks, and improving utility and drainage systems.
Since the road covers both city and parish property, he said, both entities have a vested interest in funding improvements. He said the city will act as project administrator and manage the engineering and construction of the project.
Councilwoman Mary Morris, who voted against the agreement, said the city was going into the project without adequate funds. She said she also didn’t agree with the city’s decision to prioritize this road when it had left other projects, such as Enterprise Boulevard, incomplete.
“With the same energy, the city or the parish could do something with Enterprise Boulevard,” Morris said.
Councilman Mark Eckard, who represents the district in which improvements would be made, said about $4.5 million has been set aside over the past few years for the project and that he would push for more funding in the city’s upcoming budget period this fall.
Eckard said over 16,000 cars a day drive on the road, which only has two lanes and has deep ditches. “It’s vitally important that we be able to get these roads up to standard,” he said.
Councilman Dana Jackson said he agreed with Morris that other roads needed attention in the city as well but that taking advantage of this cost-share opportunity was a move in the right direction.
“We have to start somewhere,” Jackson said.
Mayor Randy Roach echoed Jackson’s comments, saying it was a “good step” and an “excellent example” of how two entities can tackle a large infrastructure project together.
Roach said entering the agreement and starting road design now will enable the council, when it does fully fund the project, to start construction as soon as possible. The city has been criticized for not moving quickly enough on past projects, he said, and he wants to ensure timeliness in the future.
Councilwoman Luvertha August said she thought the city should at least try to fund other roads with help from the parish, even if they don’t fall within both city and parish limits.
The ordinance passed with five votes and an opposing vote by Morris. Councilman Rodney Geyen did not attend the meeting.
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