NEW ORLEANS -- You haven't had to pay tolls to cross the Central City Connection in two years, but the toll plaza is still there.
"We're very concerned. The toll plaza as it's configured now is a safety hazard," said Mike Teachworth. "It's twelve lanes into four in about 500 feet.There's also people going through those toll plaza lanes as a high rate of speed."
Stop the Tolls founder Mike Teachworth was a key opponent of the tolls, but now he can't believe the toll plaza is still there two years later.
"We were told back in 2011 by the DOTD that they had a plan and they were ready to execute on the plan, but nothing's happened," Teachworth said.
"Listen, we've been patient with DOTD for two years now, and our patience is wearing thin," said state Rep. Pat Connick. "That's going to be one of my prime issues when we get back into session."
Connick said state transportation officials told him plans to remove the toll plaza are in the works. But when I asked where the project stands, a department spokeswoman said there is no anticipated date to remove the toll plaza and it's not even in the design phase, because engineers are still developing the scope of a $2.5 million project.
"That email from DOTD contradicts what I was told from the top folks at DOTD, so I sent an email to the top administration of DOTD, Sheri LeBas, for some answers," said Connick.
The state transportation spokeswoman acknowledged they receive calls from residents wondering how bridge approaches will look after the plaza is removed, but said discussions on the project are ongoing.
"It's still a safety hazard," said Teachworth. "I'm surprised someone hasn't been hurt there."
"We're not going to let this go. We're going to make sure that those toll booths are removed," Connick said. "DOTD sometimes forget who they work for. The voters have spoken, they want the toll booths gone, so do your job DOTD, and we're going to make it happen."
