Williams appears before joint legislative transportation committees

Bobby Williams of Florien, a member of the El Camino East/West Corridor Commission, which has worked toward making a stretch of Louisiana roads into a four lane for a number of years, appeared before the Legislative Joint Transporation Committees on Jan. 31 in the Pineville City Hall complex.

Williams requested appropriations in the amount of two million dollars for the Hwy. 6 project.

The 3.1 mile project is from I-49 in Natchitoches westward to the intersection of La. 117 in Hagewood.

The project is funded through the design stage and is schedule to be completed by July 2013. The final stage before construction has an estimated cost of $2 million and will fund right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation. His request for the $2 million is to fund the final segment of the project before construction.

The overall cost of the 3.1 mile project has an estimated cost of $23 million and is scheduled to be let for bids in October 2014.

Williams has also made formal funding requests to Louisiana Senators David Vitter and Mary Landrieu and Congressman John Fleming. Vitter, at a town hall meeting held in Many in January, stated there would be no more earmarked project funding. However, Vitter stated that as a member of the transportation committee, he was working on a new long-term federal highway funded trust fund.

Other local members of the Sabine Parish El Camino East/West Corridor Commission are Many Town Councilman I.D. Bostian, Mayor Ken Freeman, and Sabine River Authority Executive Director Jim Pratt. Natchitoches members include Dr. Leland Scoggins, J.W. Scarbrough, and new Commissioner John Salter, who serves as president of the Natchitoches Parish Police Jury.