Long Henderson detour problems

The detour around construction at the La 352/La 347 intersection is a loop five miles long. Its route, which uses Nina Hwy/La 349, is too long for some impatient drivers. Too many are taking the shorter route of the small, residential street Martha Hebert Rd., according to officials.
That is not a welcome solution for residents who live along that road. They complain that some drivers are going closer to 50 MPH than the posted 15 MPH. At the July 10 town council meeting, Chief Leroy Guidry said the Louisiana State Police are responding by writing tickets and the fines tend to be big ones.
“Is it worth $180 to save five minutes?” he asked. Mayor Sherbin Collette pointed out the fact that the area is not in the town of Henderson, so Henderson police cannot write tickets there. State police are the ones running radar. Many of the complaints, however, have been coming to Town Hall.
The DOTD has posted barriers at the Martha Hebert Rd. intersections with La 347 and La 352, with “local traffic only” signs but many drivers are ignoring them. Guidry reminds drivers the closure will only last 30-45 days. Most of the detour has a 50 MPH speed limit, so the time saved is less than it seems if speed limits are observed. He asks for cooperation from drivers in using the marked detour loop.
Collette said the entire project at the Henderson I-10 exit, including the bridge widening and roundabout construction could last until the year 2023. Partly motivated by the need for more police presence there, the council approved Guidry’s request to add another patrol officer to the force. Experienced officer Tyler Dauphinet, who has been with the New Iberia and St. Martinville departments among others, was hired. Guidry said the additional patrolman will allow two officers to be on duty at all times during the night shifts.
Guidry said Dauphinet will serve the usual probationary oversight period to ensure his way of policing is compatible with the department’s practices.
In other business, the council adopted an ordinance adding an additional $.50 charge to all convictions in the Mayor’s Court.
Finally, the mayor and council went into executive (closed) session to discuss an upcoming court hearing concerning the proposed annexation of an area adjacent to I-10.