A Webster Parish property owner is questioning the state’s plans for a roadway that services several industrial businesses along westbound Interstate 20, raising concerns about access, maintenance, and long-term investment potential.
Craig Watson of Impressions Advertising, who purchased the property adjacent to the road in 2020, said he has been working to resolve the status of the heavily used access route, which is currently covered in crushed asphalt. The property, home to businesses such as Ram Z and Silver Logistics, sees daily traffic from semi-trucks and heavy equipment. However, drivers have reported vehicle damage, and Watson said the road’s condition is deteriorating due to its industrial use.
Watson wants Webster Parish to take over and maintain the road through the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s Road Transfer Program, which allows parishes and municipalities to assume control of certain roadways in exchange for state road credits. According to the program, the aim is to “right-size” the highway system by reducing the number of miles managed by the state and enhancing local government autonomy.
Watson believes the parish could benefit from approximately $900,000 in road credits through the program and better address maintenance needs for what he describes as a critical industrial corridor.
“I don’t want them to do this for Craig Watson; I want them to do it for Webster Parish,” said Watson. He noted that he pays nearly $20,000 annually in property taxes and is aware of investors willing to commit more than $25 million in development if the road issue can be resolved.
Despite presenting the proposal to the Webster Parish Police Jury, Watson said the outcome was not what he anticipated. Instead of the parish acquiring the road, he said he received a letter from the state outlining plans to realign the roadway into a 40-foot right-of-way, which he interprets as a single-lane road.
Watson believes this plan would hinder access for the approximately 70 people working on the property and fall short of industrial requirements. He cited Louisiana’s minimum roadway width of 65 feet for industrialized areas and expressed concern that the state’s proposal would not accommodate the size and weight of regular traffic in the area.
However, according to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, the proposed road will consist of 12-foot-wide travel lanes with 4-foot-wide shoulders and will be built to current construction standards. The project, estimated to cost $2.5 million, is scheduled to go to bid in September 2025. Construction is expected to begin roughly three months after the contract is awarded and should take 6 to 9 months to complete.
The department confirmed that the work will take place within the existing state right-of-way and is not expected to require the use of private property. It also stated that the completed road will be suitable for industrial traffic, including heavy trucks and construction equipment.
Watson remains unconvinced, saying the proposed specifications are not sufficient for the type of use the road sees daily. He also voiced concern about the potential relocation of utilities if the road is altered under the state’s plan.
The situation remains unresolved as Watson continues to advocate for local control, which he argues would better serve both the parish and the businesses operating along the corridor.