The Cook Road improvement renovations, which have been in the works since as far back as the early 2000s, officially concluded with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 8:30 AM on August 4th, 2026.
On that bright morning, members of the Livingston Parish Council, Denham Springs City Council, the Livingston Parish Planning and Zoning Commission, and many more public officials gathered outside the Denham Springs Seventh Day Adventist Church to bear witness to the official declaration of Cook Road’s opening.
Stephen Avara with the Parish President’s Office led the opening of the ceremony by thanking the participants for their presence for the event, citing its importance to the community.
Civil Engineer Kresten Brown was then called to the podium to discuss the project’s overall progression throughout its construction.
“This project has been a long term investment in the future of Livingston Parish,” Brown began.
“The original vision was to create a stronger connection between Pete’s Highway and Juban Road,” Brown explained, “while improving mobility, supporting continued development, and providing another route through this growing part of the parish.”
Brown stated that the project grew steadily as the years progressed, from surveying to environmental reviews and all the permitting in between as land acquisition and construction began to become a reality instead of just a plan on paper.
Brown noted that this project is “much more than a simple road extension” since it includes a four lane boulevard, grass median, turn lanes, J turns, sidewalks, major drainage improvements, bridges, culverts, structures, and a multi-lane roundabout.
Brown then went on to mention that the 2016 flood, which is steadily approaching its 10 year anniversary, marked an important chapter in the progress of Cook Road’s improvement.
“At that time, design was already well underway,” Brown added. “But after seeing the devastating effects of the flood, the public raised legitimate concerns about the drainage and the potential effects of the proposed roadway.”
As a result, the roadway profile was lowered, the design reevaluated, and “there was a renewed focus on drainage and minimizing impacts of the surrounding area,” ultimately “resulting in a better project.”
“Today we are not simply opening a road,” Brown concluded. “We are opening an important transportation corridor that will greatly improve connectivity, support growth, relieve pressure on surrounding routes, and serve Livingston Parish for many years to come.”
Glenn Ledet, Secretary of the DOTD, then took the stand to emphasize the “great example” Cook Road makes as a partnership focused project between the community, the engineering departments, and the greater organizations who were involved every step of the way.
“Today isn’t really about building that single stretch of highway,” Ledet stated. “It’s really a blueprint for what we can achieve when federal funding, state strategy, and a local vision all align around a common goal.”
“Livingston Parish is… making sure that we’re funding and supporting smart engineering, sound physical management, and real results,” Ledet concluded.
Earl Price, Chief Executive Officer at Richard Price Contracting, was then called to the stand where he expressed his gratitude to be a part of the project’s existence.
“This project holds a special meaning for us because it was built right here in our hometown,” Price explained. “It’s not often we get the opportunity to construct a project of this size in the community where we live and work.”
“We are proud to leave behind an improvement that will serve the residents of Livingston Parish for many years to come,” Price concluded.
Parish President Randy Delatte was the last to take to the podium, beginning his address by noting that this project was the result of large-scale collaboration between the community and the individuals responsible for the construction and execution of the project.
“[Today we are] celebrating what can be accomplished when people work together towards a common goal,” Delatte stated.
Delatte explained that the project began with federal funding that was identified in 2003 and later became “one of Livingston Parish’s highest transportation priorities” as a nearly 22 million dollar investment to create a better connection between Highway 16 and Juban Road.
“As Livingston Parish continues to grow, we must continue investing in the infrastructure that supports our community, businesses, and future generations,” Delatte concluded. “Today is a reminder that great projects require vision, commitment, and partnership.”
The ceremony concluded with all involved parties cutting a red ribbon on a section of the road’s median, thus officially declaring the road complete and open.
