The City of Lake Charles, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) and Port of Lake Charles are providing an overview of projects already underway and one additional project scheduled for the Sallier Street corridor in the coming years.

All three of these projects will work to ease traffic congestion in the Nelson/Prien Lake Road Corridor, while creating a new gateway to Downtown Lake Charles. These projects will also make it safer for pedestrians and bicyclists to travel through the City as shared-use paths are also included in these projects.

In February 2023, DOTD broke ground on their project, a $101.7 million bridge and extension that will connect Nelson Road and West Sallier Street via a bridge.

Impacts to local traffic will be minimal with this project.

Construction is underway and, weather dependent, is expected to wrap up in the fourth quarter of 2026. 

“The bridge and extension of Nelson Road will provide a north-south connection for this growing area of Southwest Louisiana,” said DOTD District 07 Administrator Seth Woods. “Improving travel for residents is happening because DOTD, the Port of Lake Charles and the City of Lake Charles are willing to work together. This project has been needed for many years, and it’s encouraging to see it finally get underway.”

At this time, the Port of Lake Charles is working on a $5.8 million project to relocate the railway that is currently located on the south side of West Sallier Street. This project includes the relocation of the rail to the northern side of the road. This will result in Riverside Drive becoming a dead end, cul-de-sac at its current intersection with West Sallier Street.

Weather dependent, this project is set to be complete in the first quarter of 2025. 

In the second quarter of 2025, the City of Lake Charles is expected to begin construction on a project that will include the reconstruction of West Sallier Street, from Nelson Road Extension project end to Lake Street. This will result in a 3-lane roadway and an additional shared use path for pedestrians and bicyclists. The project also includes the reconstruction of the intersection of Lake and West Sallier Streets.

Weather dependent, the project is expected to be complete in the fourth quarter of 2026.

“We are thrilled to see these three, long-awaited and generational impact projects coming to fruition,” said Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter. “Once complete, they will create new opportunities for growth and development, and make our roads safer for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. We thank the State of Louisiana, our delegation, DOTD and the Port of Lake Charles for their partnership in these endeavors. Projects like these simply don’t happen without partnerships.”

For the latest updates on the City of Lake Charles, visit www.cityoflakecharles.com and follow www.facebook.com/LakeCharlesLouisiana.

 Nelson and Sallier

To view renderings of the West Sallier Street Reconstruction Project, click the link below:

West Saller Reconstruction Project

Project Updates:

Community Open House Planned