Kaliste Saloom Road Widening

Kaliste Saloom Road is one of the six major urban arterials in Lafayette, Louisiana, located in the fastest-growing sector of Lafayette Parish. The Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG) identified the need to improve the Kaliste Saloom Roadway Corridor from Ambassador Caffery Parkway to E. Broussard Road as a key infrastructure project to better serve the residents of Lafayette Parish. According to the 2030 Transportation Plan produced in 2005, the Kaliste Saloom Roadway Corridor was predicted to be deficient by 2010. With no immediate plans by LADOTD to increase its capacity, LCG took the initiative to transfer ownership of the road from LADOTD in 2009.

The Kaliste Saloom Road Widening project faced multiple challenges, both in design and construction. The first step was to collaborate with LCG to enhance the design of the new section of the road by incorporating a continuous 5-lane roadway, providing an innovative solution that exceeds the typical criteria for new urban collector roadways in the parish. The design team at Fenstermaker was able to demonstrate the cost savings and environmental benefits of a continuous 5-lane roadway, and LCG agreed to the proposal.

The next challenge was to design the area’s first multi-lane roundabout at the intersection of the new Kaliste Saloom Road alignment and E. Broussard Road. The design required input from LADOTD and LCG Traffic Section to optimize traffic flow. The team also had to design a bridge crossing the Issac Verot Coulee, a significant drainage outfall in Lafayette Parish. They proposed a skewed girder span bridge with an articulated block matting lining the new coulee alignment.

Lastly, the design team had to carefully plan the roadway improvements around subsurface and above-ground utilities vital to the region. Fenstermaker’s relationships with the utility owners proved to be invaluable in minimizing conflicts on this major corridor.

Reduced Traffic Delays and Improved Efficiency

The construction of a multi-lane roundabout at the junction of E. Broussard Road and Kaliste Saloom Road has already demonstrated exceptional results. Prior to its completion, traffic congestion extended up to 500 to 1,000 feet in all directions at the three approaches. However, since the roundabout’s inauguration, there has been a remarkable decline in traffic delays and backups. Currently, the maximum number of vehicles backed up in any direction is only 3-4, even during high-traffic periods, showcasing substantial improvement in the efficiency of the intersection. This significant gain in efficiency provides substantial benefits for the area now and for the future.