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NORTHSHORE FEAR A ROAD
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT COULD
ONCE AGAIN... IMAPACT BUSINESS.
THE HIGHWAY 190 EXPANSION WAS
SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETE MONTHS
AGO..
BUT ONE DELAY AFTER ANOTHER HAS
CONSTRUCTION
CREWS RUSHING TO MEET A NEW
DEADLINE. WDSU REPORTER ANDY
CUNNINGHAM HAS MORE ON WHEN THE
LONG-AWAITED PROJECT
COULD FINALLY BE DONE.
CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES ALONG
THIS STRETCH OF HIGHWAY 190 IN
MANDEVILLE ...THE HEART OF THIS
NORTHSHORE COMMUITIES ...
SHOPPING CORRIDOR. Mark
Benfatti: It's been stressful
and challenging
year for all the businesses and
we're only talking about
1-point-2 miles in the city...
OWNER OF NA-TINI'S ... MARK
BENFATTI... SAID THE PAST YEAR,
FINANCIALLY, IS ONE, HE AND MANY
OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS
ERE... CAN'T AFFORD TO REPEAT.
Mark Benfatti: We have lost
some businesses in the area, the
one's that we haven't lost, are
really
hanging on, praying that this
project comes to an end... THE
PROJECT INOLVES
WIDENING THE BUSY THOROUGHFARE
FROM TWO TO
FOUR-LANES.. BUT WEATHER AND
DESIGN RELATED SETBACKS OVER
THE PAST 18-MONTHS HAVE DELAYED
THE EXPANSION AGAIN
AND AGAIN. ANDY: The project
began in 2013 orgininally plans
had it
competing in 300 days... But the
new completion date would move
that closer to 500 days...
Rick Danielson: When its all
said and done, we are hoping for
a completion somewhat close to
Thanksgiving ... Hopefully days
prior ... AT-LARGE COUNCIL
MEMBER
RICK DANIELSON SAID COMPLETING
THE PROJECT IS EVERYONE'S TOP
PRIORITIY... Rick Danielson:
but the key now is to get it
done and
continue to support these
businesses through here...
DANIELSON SAID EVERYDAY
CONSTRUCTION CREWS ARE MAKING
PROGRESS... AND
THEY ARE MONITORING THAT
PROGRESS CLOSELY. THE PROJECT'S
CONTRACTOR RELEASED THIS
STATEMENT
TODAY: "Command understands and
shares the frustrations of the
business owners around US-190.
We will continue to perform our
work in
order to complete the project as
soon as possible. We are working
toward a
November completion date,
however, that is contingent upon
no
additional problems with the
plans or weather delays"
BENFATTI SAID
WHEN THAT DAY COMES... HE WON'T
EXACTLY BE CELEBRATING.
Mark Benfatti: I'ts gonna be
more of a sense of relief and
we'll be ready to go back to
work, hopefully for the
holiday's we can get some good
traffic going here... All the
businesses on 190 can recover...
REPORTING ON YOUR SIDE FROM THE
NORTHSHORE...
ANDY CUNNINGHAM WDSU NEWS.
THE PROJECT'S PRICE TAG JUST
TOPS ELEVEN MILLION DOLLARS.
A WRONGFULLY CONVICTED MAN IN