Baton Rouge Photo of the Day

[dimebag1980]

Yea it's bad. But I believe they're widening that part of I-12, or maybe it was just I-10. Richy or Bryde could tell you more I'm sure.

Oh you definately shouldn't avoid Baton Rouge, but you should avoid driving in it.

It's the "New New Orleans" as so many say, and just driving in the city on smaller roads off of the interstate, you see just how much action the city has picked up since Katrina.

I truly believe Katrina may have been the ultimate catalyst in making New Orleans and Baton Rouge one metro area. I really think it's time... I just don't think it can be avoided anymore.

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Now if only Shreveport can become part of the DFW Metroplex...

[NCB]

I truly believe Katrina may have been the ultimate catalyst in making New Orleans and Baton Rouge one metro area. I really think it's time... I just don't think it can be avoided anymore.

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Now if only Shreveport can become part of the DFW Metroplex...

I think New Orleans and Baton Rouge becoming one metro of more than 2.1 million will happen much sooner than later. And Katrina definately sped it up, and brought both cities much closer together.

And about Shreveport joining DFW....give it 100 years.

[byrde]

The Hilton Garden Inn in the Howell Place Development

[dimebag1980]

I think New Orleans and Baton Rouge becoming one metro of more than 2.1 million will happen much sooner than later. And Katrina definately sped it up, and brought both cities much closer together.

I agree, I do believe we'll see it sooner that later... and I'm thinking pretty soon.

And about Shreveport joining DFW....give it 100 years.

Actually I'm thinking more along the lines of never.

[NCB]

Actually I'm thinking more along the lines of never.

Or that.

[byrde]

Yea it's bad. But I believe they're widening that part of I-12, or maybe it was just I-10. Richy or Bryde could tell you more I'm sure.

Oh you definately shouldn't avoid Baton Rouge, but you should avoid driving in it.

It's the "New New Orleans" as so many say, and just driving in the city on smaller roads off of the interstate, you see just how much action the city has picked up since Katrina.

I-10, between Bluebonnett and Siegen is currently under construction. They are putting in an exit ramp that will take you directly onto the Mall of LA property.

[NCB]

I-10, between Bluebonnett and Siegen is currently under construction. They are putting in an exit ramp that will take you directly onto the Mall of LA property.

Thanks bryde, I wasn't sure which interstate most of the construction was being done on in BR. Though there are plenty of new developments, along with highway projects along I-12. And driving through the city, it was good to see major roads like Airline being widened. Bluebonnet and Siegen are being widened as well aren't they?

[dimebag1980]

Thanks bryde, I wasn't sure which interstate most of the construction was being done on in BR. Though there are plenty of new developments, along with highway projects along I-12. And driving through the city, it was good to see major roads like Airline being widened. Bluebonnet and Siegen are being widened as well aren't they?

Siegen is already 7 lanes... are they widening it more?

[NCB]

Siegen is already 7 lanes... are they widening it more?

I had thought I saw what looked like road-widening in process along Siegen, but I'm not sure. But I've been in Baton Rouge twice in the last 3 weeks, and both times I was on Siegen, and the whole thing was bumper to bumper, and it took forever to get up and onto Airline, which of course was just as backed up. Nearly every major road in Baton Rouge would need to be widened to support all of the traffic up there, or at least it seems that way when you're driving around.

[byrde]

I had thought I saw what looked like road-widening in process along Siegen, but I'm not sure. But I've been in Baton Rouge twice in the last 3 weeks, and both times I was on Siegen, and the whole thing was bumper to bumper, and it took forever to get up and onto Airline, which of course was just as backed up. Nearly every major road in Baton Rouge would need to be widened to support all of the traffic up there, or at least it seems that way when you're driving around.

No more work on Siegen or Blubonnet for now.

Work was recently completed on the intersection of Siegen/Sherwood Forest @ Airline Hwy.

Bluebonnet is now 4 lanes across from Airline Hwy to Nicholson.

[dimebag1980]

I had thought I saw what looked like road-widening in process along Siegen, but I'm not sure. But I've been in Baton Rouge twice in the last 3 weeks, and both times I was on Siegen, and the whole thing was bumper to bumper, and it took forever to get up and onto Airline, which of course was just as backed up. Nearly every major road in Baton Rouge would need to be widened to support all of the traffic up there, or at least it seems that way when you're driving around.

Last time I was down there, there was plenty of traffic on Siegen, but not as much as on some roads around there. But that was pre-Katrina so I have no way of comparing. I can only imagine it's crazy now. It's hard for me to keep Katrina in mind when thinking of Baton Rouge, because I think of Baton Rouge with 225,000 people rather than 300,000+ people.

[NCB]

No more work on Siegen or Blubonnet for now.

Work was recently completed on the intersection of Siegen/Sherwood Forest @ Airline Hwy.

Oh ok, the work on the intersection of Siegen/Sherwood Forest at Airline may have been what I saw. Thanks for the info, bryde.

[NCB]

It's hard for me to keep Katrina in mind when thinking of Baton Rouge, because I think of Baton Rouge with 225,000 people rather than 300,000+ people.

I think of Baton Rouge as a city with 225,000 people alot too. But once you drive in, you quicky remember that this city is probably over 300K right now. The only city close to it in Louisiana is New Orleans, which according to "official" estimates has about 220,000 people right now. The problem is that you can't use nomral population estimation methods for the city right now, as this is far from a normal situation. Most people in the city, as well as many city officials, have said that New Orleans is probably closer to 250K-275 right now. And keep in mind that there are probably at least 25,000 or 30,000 illegal workers in the city, maybe even closer to 40,000.

[dimebag1980]

I think of Baton Rouge as a city with 225,000 people alot too. But once you drive in, you quicky remember that this city is probably over 300K right now. The only city close to it in Louisiana is New Orleans, which according to "official" estimates has about 220,000 people right now. The problem is that you can't use nomral population estimation methods for the city right now, as this is far from a normal situation. Most people in the city, as well as many city officials, have said that New Orleans is probably closer to 250K-275 right now. And keep in mind that there are probably at least 25,000 or 30,000 illegal workers in the city, maybe even closer to 40,000.

True. This isn't a 'normal' situation... it's an unprecedented situation.

And those workers are probably all on strike today.

It seems they have more rights than I do, and I was born in this country.

[NCB]

And those workers are probably all on strike today.

I'm willing to bet that most of them aren't, because of the fact that there are so many illegal workers in New Orleans, they know that if they strike rather than go to their jobs, they can be fired and replaced in literally seconds.

[dimebag1980]

I'm willing to bet that most of them aren't, because of the fact that there are so many illegal workers in New Orleans, they know that if they strike rather than go to their jobs, they can be fired and replaced in literally seconds.

Now there's an approach I didn't consider.

Someone's got his thinking cap on today, and it ain't me!

[NCB]

Now there's an approach I didn't consider.

Someone's got his thinking cap on today, and it ain't me!

Trust me, if you were here to see all of these workers, that thought would pop into your head just as fast as it popped into mine. Its amazing how 8 months ago, there were litterally just a few hispanic people in the city, and now there are at least 30,000.

[Mith242]

Trust me, if you were here to see all of these workers, that thought would pop into your head just as fast as it popped into mine. Its amazing how 8 months ago, there were litterally just a few hispanic people in the city, and now there are at least 30,000.

In a lot of ways it was business as usual up here. Sure there have been some rallies and such but despite the number of Hispanics that have moved here there almost just seems to be more of a business first mentality up here. I'm really curious to see if many of these Hispanics end up staying in the area and end up contributing to the culture of the area.

[dimebag1980]

In a lot of ways it was business as usual up here. Sure there have been some rallies and such but despite the number of Hispanics that have moved here there almost just seems to be more of a business first mentality up here. I'm really curious to see if many of these Hispanics end up staying in the area and end up contributing to the culture of the area.

Nothing wrong with a "business first mentality!" It's how things get done.

I know one of my coworkers said he ate at a local Mexican restaurant on Saturday, and his waiter was trying to round up support among the other staff for a rally in Shreveport today. Obviously he didn't get the support he needed because I haven't heard anything about a rally here.

[NCB]

I'm really curious to see if many of these Hispanics end up staying in the area and end up contributing to the culture of the area.

Alot of them seem to have really found a home in New Orleans. They're in the shopping malls, riding the streetcars, going to the casino's, enjoying with riverfront, walking around the French Quarter, enjoying the food, etc. like normal citizens. Many of them have families and are at places like the Louisiana Childrens Museum and the Zoo with them. They're not just back somewhere looking for work, a great deal of them are all around the city enjoying what it has to offer. New Orleans obviously has alot of Spanish history, but there's never been much of an influence from hispanics, as there really haven't been any in the city like Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Charlotte, and other major cities across the South because the economy didn't support the jobs that most of them were looking for. Now however, it's totally different, and I'll be interested to see how they contribute to the area culturally too.

There has been an increase in hispanic gang violence in the city, which is not something good, but you can almost expect that to happen. Just as more people are returning to the city, the crime goes up, and as more hispanics come to the city, crime from them goes up as well.

[richyb83]

Baton Rouge pop. before Katrina was 225,000 but, it has always seemed larger than that. When I look at BR street maps, there is a large amount of neigborhoods not in the city limits for some reason. There are places in BR you will drive and think you are in the city limits, but you are not. EBR Parish was 412,000 pre-Katrina.

I have tried to estimate the true pop. in these areas that I think should be incorporated. At least 50 to 60,000 more people than the 225,000 before Katrina.

Remember Bluebonnet/Mall of LA. Seigen-I-10 are still not in the city limits as of now.

Edited May 1, 2006 by richyb83

[NCB]

Remember Bluebonnet/Mall of LA. Seigen-I-10 are still not in the city limits as of now.

Wow, really? I didn't know that. That seems weird to me actually, because that's one of the busiest parts of the city. Has there been any more talk of possibly combining the city of Baton Rouge with EBR Parish? I heard alot about that possibility directly after Katrina.

[richyb83]

I doubt BR and EBR will combine.

The northern 1/3 of the Parish is claimed by Zachary, Baker, and Central(city, just incorporated). They now have their own independent school districts, bec. they want no part of the EBR School System.

That construction along I-10 between Bluebonnet and Seigen that Byrde spoke of that will have the new Picardy Ave. Overpass making a new main entrance to the Mall of La. The Mall is expanding soon. The road will loop-around the Mall and be extended to Essen Lane. Around the south-end of the loop will be a new Perkins/Picardy connector road(four-lane) recently approved by the City. This will run-along the edge of the NEW PERKINS ROWE ! A "City" in the suburbs !

You will be able to drive to it w/o ever driving on Bluebonnet ! They have been getting smarter with these roads lately ! Thank goodness !

[dimebag1980]

Remember Bluebonnet/Mall of LA. Seigen-I-10 are still not in the city limits as of now.

I'm with Nate... I had no idea. So it's just strictly suburban development. That says a lot about the strength of that area, and it's definitely a busy area. I wonder if Baton Rouge will end up annexing all that? With all the tax dollars being generated in that area, I'm completely shocked at the mere thought that it's not inside the city limits. I guess EBR Parish receives the taxes from all that then!?

[NCB]

You will be able to drive to it w/o ever driving on Bluebonnet!

That's great, because driving on Bluebonnet alone was a main reason why not to even go to the mall. It's basically an extention of the parking lot during rush hour!