In the central core area where the Thruway is a couplet the one block area between the two directional roadways is a developed area, primarily residential with some small businesses. Therefore, alternatives on new alignment adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad were also considered. The Selected Alternative utilizes the new alignment section in the central core in part because it minimizes residential displacements.
Based on the findings reported in the I-49 Connector Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) it is anticipated that there will be a total of 185 displacements (122 residential and 63 commercial) due to the construction of the proposed project.
Impacts to the neighborhoods in the vicinity of the cross streets will be minimized by the selection of the elevated freeway alternative for the project, rather than the selected overpasses alternative. The selected overpasses alternative would require overpasses on the key cross streets, with construction impacts due to vertical geometry extending a minimum of 500' into the neighborhoods and other areas on each side of the Thruway. With each cross street elevated 15 - 20 feet to cross over the freeway, the existing ground level Thruway could not intersect with the cross streets to provide local traffic circulation and access or provide movements to and from the freeway. If the existing Thruway were raised to the level of the overpass crossing streets, this would require extensive right-of-way acquisitions and retaining walls, and would block access to those residential and business properties adjacent to the Thruway. Traffic operating characteristics would be severely hindered and the high number of relocations and other adverse socioeconomic impacts of this concept (due to the cross street overpasses) are higher than the impacts caused by the elevated freeway alternative that has been selected.
Based on the Final EIS studies, there is no practical alternative that will further minimize residential and commercial impacts.
The funding source for right-of-way acquisition and construction of the I-49 Connector has not been identified. Therefore, a corridor preservation plan has been developed to guide development in the corridor and allow for limited right-of-way acquisition over time until such funding becomes available. The LCG Corridor Preservation and Management Action Plan to Preserve the I-49 Alignment is the subject of a Joint Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the FHWA, the LaDOTD, and the LCG and is a part of the Record of Decision. One component of the corridor preservation plan includes replacement housing for displacees. This component of the plan meets the requirements of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 and is considered to be a Last Resort Housing plan as required.
COMMITMENT:
Relocations and housing needs will be handled in accordance with the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 and amendments of 1987. These items are addressed additionally in the Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG) Corridor Preservation and Management Action Plan to Preserve the I-49 Alignment. Provisions regarding right-of-way acquisition, relocation assistance, and last resort housing will be upheld over time by LaDOTD with oversight by FHWA. This plan is part of the Joint Cooperative Endeavor Agreement, which is contained in the Final EIS.
STATUS:
Currently the City of Lafayette and LaDOTD are in the process of negotiating the first piece of right-of-way to be used for the proposed project. This piece of land is located near the proposed Kaliste Saloom interchange and is being acquired through the LCG Corridor Preservation and Management Action Plan to Preserve the I-49 Alignment. Below is a table summarizing the number of parcels needed for the project and the number acquired to date.
RIGHT-OF-WAY STATUS SUMMARY BASED ON FINDINGS OF FEIS
| Type of Displacement | Estimated Parcels Needed | Parcels
Acquired | % Acquired |
 |
| Residential | 96 | 4 | 4% |
| Business | 93 | 8 | 9% |
| Use Not Known | 43 | 3 | - |
| Total (As of 3/7/08) | 232 | 15 | 7% |
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| *Note:25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% benchmarks trigger provisions of the Plan of Archaeological Investigations for the Selected Alternative of the I-49 Connector.
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