SHREVEPORT, La. — Ten Shreveport corridors and intersections with elevated crash histories are targeted for improvements under a $2.27 million federal roadway safety grant awarded to the city.
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Shreveport $2,269,600 through the Safe Streets and Roads for All program for the first phase of a $2.8 million safety project.
The improvements will target locations identified through the Northwest Louisiana Council of Governments Regional Safety Action Plan.
Between 2019 and 2023, Shreveport recorded 38,596 traffic crashes, including 124 fatal crashes and 475 crashes involving suspected serious injuries, according to the city.
The 10 locations selected for the first phase accounted for nine fatal crashes and 65 injury crashes during that period.
“This is great news for Shreveport and another important investment in the safety of our citizens,” Mayor Tom Arceneaux said. “We’re constantly looking for opportunities to improve our infrastructure, and this funding will help us address some of our most pressing roadway safety needs.”
Planned improvements include pavement markings, upgraded lighting, sidewalks, high-visibility crosswalks, pedestrian crossing signals, speed-feedback signs and intersection improvements.
The city expects the work to reduce crashes by at least 10% at each of the 10 project locations.
One of the targeted areas is Kelly Key Street, where the underlying NLCOG safety plan identifies a roughly 0.4-mile segment between Hollywood Avenue and Adrian Street.
NLCOG’s analysis found 13 crashes along that segment between 2018 and 2022, including one fatality. More than half of the crashes involved young drivers.
Recommendations for Kelly Key Street include improving pavement and lighting and creating four-way stops at Miles Street, Crosby Street and Mayfield Street.
The city said selected intersections along Kelly Key Street will be converted to all-way stops as part of the federally funded project.
The broader project is aimed at a mix of roadway users, including motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.
Shreveport’s award was announced Oct. 30. The city must now work with the Federal Highway Administration to finalize the grant agreement before federally funded improvements can begin.
“By bringing federal resources to Shreveport, we can make meaningful improvements to our infrastructure while continuing to invest in a safer, stronger city,” Arceneaux said.
The city said the improvements identified for the 10 locations are based on preliminary assessments and recommendations and could change during the design process.