Nearly one-third of Louisiana’s state legislators have signed onto a bipartisan letter urging the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to prioritize capacity and safety improvements along the Interstate 12 corridor.
State Rep. Roger Wilder III, R-Denham Springs, announced that he and 47 other lawmakers sent the letter to DOTD Secretary Glenn Ledet on Feb. 17. The group represents approximately 33 percent of the Legislature.
The letter follows months of discussions between Wilder and DOTD officials regarding congestion and safety concerns on I-12, including conversations that began during the department’s roadshow in Livingston Parish on Dec. 8 and continued in Washington, D.C., earlier this year.
In the letter, lawmakers describe I-12 as a “vital east–west corridor” serving the Florida Parishes and the state as a whole, carrying commuter traffic, commercial freight, and emergency vehicles. They argue that the interstate, originally designed for lower traffic volumes, now faces persistent congestion, elevated crash rates, and infrastructure limitations.
“Despite its importance, this segment continues to face significant congestion and elevated crash rates, underscoring the need for timely safety and capacity improvements,” the letter states.
The lawmakers cited several recent fatal and serious crashes along the corridor, including a February fatality near Albany in Livingston Parish and previous deadly collisions in both Livingston and St. Tammany parishes.
They also pointed to ongoing safety concerns at the I-12 and I-55 interchange in Tangipahoa Parish, citing heavy commercial traffic, complex merging patterns, and recurring congestion that have led to crashes and traffic shutdowns.
Wilder said the effort is intended to move beyond public statements and toward coordinated legislative action.
“Serious, collaborative action is what makes things move,” Wilder said in a statement. “This letter shows clarity on the issue and alignment across parishes and across parties.”
The letter urges DOTD to prioritize budgeting and advancing improvements along the I-12 corridor, which runs through some of the state's fastest-growing parishes.
Lawmakers emphasized that public safety and infrastructure investment are fundamental responsibilities of government.
“Taking decisive steps to improve the I-12 corridor is essential to fulfilling our duty,” the letter states. “It is time to take these conversations from discussion to action.”
The letter was signed by lawmakers from both chambers and multiple regions of the state, including members of the House and Senate transportation committees.
