We congratulate the Lake Charles City Council for recently passing a resolution to ask the state Department of Transportation and Development to pick up the trash and debris along the Interstate 10 corridor from the Calcasieu River bridge to the I-210 West exit.

“In that area, you can see grass growing out of the concrete, and there is all types of debris,” said City Council member Mary Morris, sponsor of the resolution.

“If you look at the embankments of some of those on and off ramps, any type of debris you can imagine is there. It’s almost like a Third World country.”

Is this what we want visitors to our community to see when they first arrive or pass through our area? Obviously not.

This should be the cleanest, most pristine area of Lake Charles. First impressions are important, and there is no excuse for letting this and other locations become eyesores.

“When people see that area, that’s the vision they have of who we are,” Morris said.

The fact that the City Council passed this resolution unanimously should send a strong message to the DOTD that it needs to do a better job.

I-10 and I-210 through Lake Charles aren’t the only areas that need better litter maintenance.

All along I-10 through Louisiana you frequently see unsightly trash and hazardous debris. Everything from building materials to castoff tire rubber can be encountered.

A state law that went into effect Aug. 1 should help somewhat. That law covers removing debris or vehicles along certain highways after wrecks or other incidents.

Officers investigating accidents are permitted to remove any vehicle, cargo or other property damaged or spilled along roadways — including the interstate highway system — that would cause a hazard or obstruct traffic.

The consent of the vehicle’s owner is not now required.

In addition, during rush-hour traffic periods, officers are now required to take “immediate action” to keep all lanes of traffic open.

The law defines peak travel times as 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. on weekdays.

And, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, some 25,000 vehicular accidents a year, nationwide, can be attributed to road debris.

Trash and road debris are a constant and serious problem, both visually and as a traffic hazard.

Authorities — national, state and local — need to give the highest priority to this ubiquitous problem.(American Press Archives)

Brad Puckett