JEFFERSON PARISH, La. — It's easy to spot ramps to nowhere along the nearly 5-mile-long Earhart Expressway.
The east-west highway between New Orleans and Harahan was originally supposed to connect with major north-south routes in Jefferson Parish such as Causeway Boulevard.
After years of delays, Jefferson Parish President Mike Yenni said the parish could break ground on a new interchange at Earhart Expressway and Causeway Boulevard this time next year.
"We hope after the right of way acquisition that has to take place over the next year we'll be able to have some ground broken and some enhancements done to the first phase of this project," Yenni said.
Drivers have complained about traffic congestion in and around the nearby Jefferson Highway corridor.
Ochsner Medical Center has expanded in recent years, adding thousands of new jobs there.
People on Tuesday said new on and off ramps along Earhart are long overdue.
"I guess it's a good thing," James Reed said. "More exits, more people can get off sooner, less congestion."
"I travel up and down Earhart at least eight times a day," Frank Gioia said. "The more access I can get to Causeway, the better."
In addition to the new Causeway interchange, parish officials said they are also planning future Earhart ramps at Dakin Street.
That would connect drivers with Jefferson Highway near the Orleans Parish line.
Another potential interchange at Lead Street in Elmwood would reduce truck congestion on nearby Clearview Parkway and Dickory Avenue.
There is also talk about a U-turn on Earhart located just east of Deckbar Avenue.
Jefferson Parish Councilman Paul Johnson said the Causeway exit could take longer to complete then the other projects.
"The state's got to fund it," Johnston said. "It's a $120 million [project]. We're putting up $7 million. The state would have to find the funding to do the rest.
Jefferson Parish will also soon begin a major widening project along Causeway Boulevard from Airline Highway to I-10.
"We don't want to overload Causeway, so that's why we're working on that widening now, so when all of this comes into fruition we will have put the horse before the cart instead of vice versa," Yenni said.
The new Causeway interchange would take about three years to build.