District 8 Calcasieu Parish Police Juror Guy Brame said he is working with state and parish officials on several road projects, including an extension of Ham Reid Road from its intersection with Elliot Road west to Big Lake Road.

Brame said he is working with Tim Conner, the parish’s engineer, along with Conner’s staff, to acquire right-of-ways for the project.

“It will open up a lot of land for development that’s not being used,” he said. “That’s the main goal for this. Plus it will alleviate some traffic on Country Club Road.”

Brame said he is working with the state Department of Transportation and Development on two other road improvement projects within his district.

They include adding more lanes on Big Lake Road from its intersection with Country Club Road south to Gauthier Road, and on Country Club Road from Nelson Road west to Big Lake Road.

Brame said the roads will need more lanes to handle the expected traffic once the Magnolia LNG project gets underway.

The Australia-based company plans to build a liquefied natural gas facility on more than 100 acres of land near the intersection of Henry Pugh Boulevard and Big Lake Road. The project is expected to bring in 1,000 construction jobs, 45 permanent jobs and 175 indirect jobs.

“We really need the road widened to keep up with all the growth in that area,” Brame said. “There is a lot of vacant land out there that’s about to be built because of the Magnolia LNG project.”

Brame said he has received verbal commitments from the DOTD and House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles, that both projects will receive state funding. He said it could take several years to complete both projects.

Other projects

Improvements at Calcasieu Point Landing, including an amphitheater, could be finished by October, Brame said. The park, located at 3955 Henry Pugh Boulevard, also has an extended fishing pier and new bathrooms.

“We’re adding to the amenities for the local sports fishermen and boaters who go out there,” Brame said. “It’s huge for them.”

Brame said he is also working with Kane Webb, the parish’s director of facility management, on getting covered seating areas at Prien Lake Park.

“When people call me about what they want at the park, that’s their number one thing,” he said.

(American Press Archives)