State OKs plans for start of Buc-ee’s road work

Louisiana’s Department of Transportation and Development has approved the plans for Phase I of the improvements to the Tarbutton Road interchange needed for the Buc-ee’s Travel Center to open.

“This a huge step for us,” Mayor Ronny Walker said. “We are thankful to finally get to this point.”

The approved plans include only work on the Tarbutton overpass, the exits and entrances to I-20, and a new interstate frontage road from Ruston to Grambling that will provide the access to Buc-ee’s.

The travel center will be directly across from Ruston Junior High School on the north side of I-20.

Walker said the city expects to bid Phase I within the next two weeks in hopes that the Board of Aldermen can award a construction contract in February.

The new two-way traffic frontage road will be on the westbound side of the interstate. The road will be built in two phases: the first phase from Buc- ee’s to the frontage road, and the second phase from the Ruston city limits to Grambling.

Phase I must be done for Buc-ee’s to open.

The city will pay for the anticipated $8 million Phase I price tag using part of a $15 million bond issue that will be paid back by money generated in the tax increment district that includes the Buc-ee’s site.

The Phase I work is expected to begin late in the first quarter of 2025 and take approximately 10 months to complete.

City officials said they expect some traffic tieups while the work’s underway but don’t foresee major disruptions.

“Our intention and expectation is that traffic will be maintained throughout the project area and the ramps during construction,” city Utilities Manager Andrew Halbrook. “There may be some activities that may limit it for a day or 48 hours or so. The overall flow and operation of the area should be maintained throughout the construction.”