Jones: $350M in state funds came to St. Mary Parish

St. Mary Parish Council members heard a state legislative report from Rep. Sam Jones Wednesday.
Jones, who has been in politics for 40 years, is serving his last term as representative for Dist. 50.
He pointed out that the overpass at La. 318 and US 90 should be complete by Christmas. That $54 million project has grown to $70 million due to changes made to the design and construction. Previous to that, an interchange near Patoutville Mill was completed.
In 2018, Jones said bids will be let for maintenance and repair of the US 90 bridge over the Atchafalaya River in Morgan City, and following that, maintenance, repair and painting will happen on the La. 182 bridge. “It’s going to stay there,” Jones said. “We’ve got a lot of bridges that were built in the fifties and sixties that have already fallen down. That one was built in the thirties, and they knew how to build bridges. It’s the second deepest foundation bridge in America, next to the Golden Gate Bridge.”
That’s $30 million in combined funding for the two bridges. Jones also touted current and past projects during his terms, including but not limited to the La. 87 overlay from Adeline to Oaklawn at $8 million; La. 87 from Franklin to Centerville, $4 million; La. 182 overlay from Patterson to Southeast Boulevard, $3 million; overlay from Morgan City to Stephensville, $4 million; reconstruction of Catherine Street, $2 million; overlay from Centerville to Burns Point, $7 million; Adeline to Jeanerette overlay on La. 182; Main Street in Franklin overlay; US 90 from the Wax Lake Outlet to the river, $18 million currently ongoing; and several others.
The state is working on the environmental statement for the overpass at Red Cypress Road, Jones said. The structure will span across the railroad track.
Jones spoke of the state’s “temporary” 1-cent sales tax and a bill he considered submitting that would have removed half a cent, but keep one quarter committed to roads, bridges, dredging and port development. The last quarter percent would be removed. He chose not to proceed because he knew the votes weren’t there.
Replacement of the Oaklawn Bridge will be bid out soon, and Flattown Road in Charenton will be overlaid next year.
Jones listed other projects in Jeanerette, Siracusaville and elsewhere.
He mentioned the Franklin Canal and Bayou Vista pump stations; Yellow Bayou enhancements and floodgates; Bayou Choupique, Bayou Chene flood control; and conversion of Baldwin Elementary into the town fire station.
The Wilson boat Landing in Patterson has been completed, Jones said, and there has been extensive work at the Jesse Fontenot boat landing.
A marine training center was constructed at Young-Sanders in Morgan City, Jones said.
Jones said there is an effort to acquire the old post office in Franklin for use as records storage for the St. Mary Parish Clerk of Courts.
Some $350 million in investments in St. Mary parish and along its borders all total, Jones said.