Ordinance for study on possible road extension from Dawson Rd. to Resilient Way

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Caddo Parish Commissioner, Ken Epperson Sr. is proposing an ordinance to allocate funds to perform a cost analysis study into an extension of Dawson Road.

Dawson Road leads to a dead end, meaning there is one way in and one way out for residents. Epperson says this is a safety concern.

“We got all kinds of pipelines crossing through there and oil wells. You can have a rupture, and then they’re, they’re trapped- in addition to the flooding that has been systemic for years throughout this area where they only have one way in and one way out,” said Commissioner Epperson.

In a future project, the plan is to extend Dawson Rd. into Resilient Way which leads to Resilient Technology Park.

“We won’t disturb AEP whatsoever. We’ll go down I think this is about 7/10th of a mile, and then we’ll tie in with the existing Dawson Road,” says Epperson.

The funds for the study would be reallocated from a Greenwood Waterline Service to extend to 169 and establish a citizens’ water committee.

Epperson says the Greenwood administration did not want to go about the venture due to stipulations, so he wishes to allocate the money to an area where it can make a difference.

He says the extension would provide convenience, safety, and opportunity for residential growth. Additionally, Epperson said the current Dawson Rd. would be upgraded with bed work and drainage.

Michi Arima has been a resident on Dawson Rd. since 2010. She says she has seen flooded waters come up and over the only entrance to the road. In one instance school buses were blocked.

“They cannot do it and you had parents upset, you had some guys with the trucks you know with the 4x4s you know way up high lifted, figured yeah we’ll put them in the back of the truck and bring them in, this is neighbors trying to brainstorm and do something,” said Arima.

In regard to emergency response, Armia says, “we live in a very large gray zone in terms of area of coverage. They overlap but it’s on the outer perimeter of their coverage.”

She says an extension from the dead-end side would provide at least a backdoor.

“So you have, even with the emergencies, with the way the fire department operates, they take turns so they could you know, when they get their downtime, this one covers them, right same thing with law enforcement,” said Armia.

Epperson feels the extension could enhance economic development.

“These are people here too, they are taxpayers. and they deserve the same respect for safety and convenience as any other neighborhood does.”