Phase II of multimillion-dollar road work in Haughton begins

Haughton announced a recent capital outlay award which will allow the LA 157/3227 Project Phase II on Monday, July 1.

This phase is estimated to cost approximately $7 million. Dodie Horton, Louisiana State Rep. said, "this town has grown by 33% over the last 10 years and the more capital outlay dollars we get the more it will be able to help us keep up with that growth."

This phase has been in the works since 2020. Kim Gaspard, Haughton City Mayor said, "In 2020, the town of Haughton submitted a capital outlay project to the legislature, and it has taken four long years 2020 through 2024 to finally get all the funding for the highway 157/3227 project."

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) are currently working on construction of Phase I LA 157/3227-- includes the widening of LA 157 from two lanes to five lanes.

This phase represents a $4.1 million investment into Haughton.

Phase II is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025 and is expected to take 12 months to complete. During this project the DOTD will be realigning LA 3227 to swing down and connect LA 157 south of the Pilot truck stop.

The Phase I intersection will become a right-in and right-out only. DOTD described it as motorist won't be able to travel across LA 157 from Pilot to LA 3227.

Check out this map provided by the DOTD:

Louisiana State Senator, Adam Bass said, "what's so important about this 3227/157 project is it's going to turn on the sales tax revenue that's needed desperately for this town to continue to grow."

Gaspard said that this project is going to allow for 70 acres of commercial development to take place in Haughton. What residents can expect is a major grocery store, pharmacy, restaurants and possibly a hotel.

"That means in turn tax dollars for us," said Gaspard.

Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.