The ongoing expansion and upgrading of Interstate 10 through Baton Rouge, La., is continuing, with a joint venture of Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. and Boh Bros. Construction Co. having just started work on a $195.1-million, 2.5-mile-long project.

Marking the second phase of the overall I-10 expansion through Baton Rouge, the project will widen the current six lanes (three each way) to eight lanes (four each way). The project is expected to be completed in 2028.

Brandi Bordelon, public information manager for the Kiewit-Boh joint venture, said the current work includes widening the westbound interstate and the construction and installation of sound reduction walls that are expected to shield a combination of residential and commercial assets from vehicular noise.

The sound walls will be constructed along the corridor of the project, from the I-10/I-110 split to east of Acadian Thruway, both eastbound and westbound, said Bordelon.

Motorists traveling this section of interstate can expect a traffic shift to the inside barrier. Its regular width of 12 ft has been reduced to 11 ft and re-striped to guide motorists. Additionally, the shoulder of the right lane has been temporarily eliminated with the placement of concrete barriers.

This past spring, the state legislators approved $180 million in additional bonds for the Interstate-10 widening project as inflation impacts have increased the estimated cost by more than $200 million to $925 million overall.