Tim Houk

Work  will begin this week on one of the Central Thruway projects that will eventually form part of a route that officials say will provide an improved north-south connection from Nicholson Drive to Hooper Road. The Central Thruway as a whole will cost about $70 million, including about $50 million in local money and $20 million in federal funds, and is one of the largest public works projects in East Baton Rouge history. This project features 2 bridges and will cost about $9.5 million. This is the fourth of nine Central Thruway projects, and the 14th Green Light Plan project, to begin construction. The new project is scheduled for completion in early 2011; officials don’t yet have an anticipated completion date for the Thruway