Meeting about damaged Highway 14 from Kaplan through Gueydan to Lake Arthur draws great local interest

Concerned citizens from the Gueydan, Lake Arthur and Kaplan areas fill the Gueydan City Hall beyond capacity for the recent meeting held Thursday, January 28, 2010 concerning the declining status of Highway 14.

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By Max Hungerford,
Meceal Smith, and
Mike Rizzuto

An overflow crowed of over 100 area residents showed up at the Gueydan City Hall on Thursday night, January 28, 2010 to discuss the rapidly-decling condition of the stretch of Highway 14 that runs from Kaplan through Gueydan to Lake Arthur.

The attendance exceeded all expectations.

Gueydan Mayor Bob Hensgens conducted the meeting and was ably supported by Kaplan Mayor Linda Hardee and Lake Arthur Mayor E.R. “Red” Giles.

Former Gueydan Mayors Rene C. Breaux and Manson Saltzman also were present, as was Police Juror Leon P. Broussard (Gueydan), School Board Member Bill Searle (Gueydan), and many other area civic-minded residents.

The meeting, which was heavily publicized by newspapers and websites of The Gueydan Journal and the Lake Arthur Sun Times in recent weeks, focused on the declining state of Highway 14 in those areas, its negative effects on automobiles and trucks driven by residents, and the potential threats of accidents resulting from the crumbling highway’s structure, composition and other alarming deficiencies.

The particular stretch of Highway 14 has been described as one of the most notorious stretches of bumps, rattles and rolls in the South Louisiana area. There are cracks, holes and crevices present everywhere that makes traveling on the road a dangerous proposition for even the most sturdy of vehicles. The damage is so extensive that concerned citizens all around the area are left wondering when and if it will ever be improved or resurfaced, since there has been little attention paid to it by local and state officials.

Special thanks were given out to State Senator Jonathan Perry and DOTD official Bill Fontenot, who both showed up to listen to the citizens. Both fielded tough questions from the audience and addressed them with honesty, dignity, and concern, listening carefully in the process.

As one of the speakers put it, “Why are the roads from Gueydan to Lake Arthur and from Gueydan to Kaplan atrocious and the roads past Lake Arthur to Lake Charles and past Kaplan to Abbeville in excellent condition?”

“Actually, instead of the bend in the road, Gueydan is the forgotten dump between roads,” voiced another resident.

Gueydan’s Karen Theriot pointed out the fact that Highway 14 is a crucial State Evacuation Route. Such an important byway should not have folks being afraid to use it due to dangerous, neglected hazards. Theriot and her daughter must drive that route daily to get to school, and Theriot worries each and every day that one of the bridge’s edges might be ready to cave in.

Gueydan resident Larry Dugas was interested in the disposition of recently released highway funds, and fellow resident Grayson Benoit asked about the return of tax dollars to be used as highway funds.

Gueydan’s Arlene Foreman stated that she is seeing renewed pothole maintenance, but Gerald Bossley then asked about sealing the 25-mile segment of road until substantial repairs could be performed.

Police Juror Leon P. Broussard was interested in rerouting the “permitted overloads” to the bypass which is located south of Gueydan, while School Board Member Bill Searle wondered why Highway 14 stretches east of Kaplan and west of Lake Arthur were in such better condition than the local section from Kaplan to Lake Arthur.

Feelings bordering on hopelessness were on the minds of the local populace, as they wondered why this area appeared to be “getting the shaft” when it came to highway upkeep and repair. Many citizens of the area felt that when it comes to getting funds for this specific stretch of road, area residents were at the “bottom of the totem pole.”

Senator Perry, who was thanked profusely for showing up for the meeting in good faith, gave what amounted to a “good news, bad news” yet honest scenario of the current situation. While he gave his solemn promise that Gueydan and its neighboring towns are his top priority, Perry also stated that the “powers that be” have already voted on its top priorities for the next three years, and unfortunately, they do not have the Kaplan to Gueydan to Lake Arthur problem listed.

Fontenot seemed to set the minds of the audience at ease, or at least raise their hopes a bit, as he said that he will be working feverishly to come up with some plan to get other means of assistance before the next three years are up.

A plethora of other questions were brought up and discussed, with residents peppering Senator Perry and DOTD’s Fontenot with queries, ideas and common sense suggestions in quest of solving the road problems.

As Gueydan’s Max Hungerford, one of the most concerned residents of the state of Highway 14, stated, “As this unfolds, I would like to leave you with this question. Does the continued use of ‘permitted overloads’ on this debilitated section of highway constitute a willful destruction of public property? Well, you decide!”

Kaplan, Gueydan, and Lake Arthur residents will no doubt have that on their minds until each part of Highway 14 is repaired to an acceptable status so area residents can travel on it safely and efficiently.