La. 182 oaks granted pardon from Gov. Bobby Jindal

BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Sherri LeBas issued the following statement Tuesday to update community members on DOTD’s La. 182 preservation project and its plan to keep the roadway’s surrounding oak trees.
Lebas said, “Gov. (Bobby) Jindal asked us to preserve the trees because of their importance to the parish and the state. DOTD is moving forward with the pavement preservation project on La. 182 in St. Mary Parish to help restore the ride quality of the roadway. In doing so, DOTD recognizes the cultural significance of thirteen oak trees located along this scenic byway and they will not be removed. The project may require only the trimming of low hanging branches to allow for safe passage of sugar cane trucks and farm equipment. Additionally, various safety enhancements such as edgeline rumble striping, non-reflective raised pavement markings and enhanced signage will be installed to improve safety throughout the 4.73-mile stretch of La. 182. Construction work during this project will not interfere with any current or future sugar cane harvest. This project is expected to let in February 2015.”
Jindal said, “These oak trees are a part of our Louisiana heritage and represent hundreds of years of our state’s history.”
State Sen. Bret Allain, R-Franklin, said, “I appreciate the governor and DOTD for working with me and being sensitive to the wishes of the community. “