A $5 million intersection and streetscape project at 12th and Surrey streets officially broke ground Thursday, signaling a continuation of the Evangeline Corridor Initiative, Lafayette’s infrastructure response to the still-pending I-49 mega project.
That intersection sees consistent pedestrian traffic, evidenced by the steady clip of confused pedestrians walking near the groundbreaking ceremony at 8:30 a.m. The area has also seen its share of serious accidents, with a fatal crash in September 2024, the same month plans for the corridor initiative were finalized.
The improvements to the streetscape at the intersection and extending outward have been in some state of consideration by LCG for almost 10 years now.
Cracked sidewalks will be replaced with new, wider ones, featuring ADA accessible curbs that curve slightly into the road to provide safer crossing on new brick-stamped crosswalks. The current curbs crumble into the street, directly next to where cars are flying by pedestrians on the sidewalk.
New bus stations will also be installed at a safer distance from the roadway.
The Initiative includes design manuals that break Lafayette neighborhoods impacted by the corridor into five districts, with separate plans for development within each.
The intersection falls within the McComb-Veazy district manual, which includes proposals for streetscape improvements recommended by the Evangeline Thruway Redevelopment Team. The proposals for the redevelopment include future work targeted for East Simcoe Street, with the potential of inducing business and housing investment around the new streetscape.
“You can look forward to the continuation of these types of projects coming to North Lafayette,” said District 5 City Councilman Kenneth Boudreaux at the groundbreaking.