Properties Bought In Future I-49 Connector's Path
by Claire Taylor - The Daily Advertiser (excerpt)

The state and federal governments may not have the hundreds of millions of dollars needed to build the Interstate 49 Connector through Lafayette, but they're already paving the way.

More than $3.8 million in federal funds was used to buy 18 pieces of property in the future I-49 Connector's path, Bill Fontenot, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development district engineer administrator, said. The $3.8 million figure does not include the cost to taxpayers for appraisals, recording, demolition and property management, Fontenot said.

In addition, 15 people were displaced by the purchases and six were relocated at a cost of $81,189, DOTD documents show.

The idea is to buy properties that will be in the way of the interstate as they become available and the owners are willing to sell. If the state waited to buy all properties as construction nears, some parcels might have new homes and businesses on them and could cost taxpayers more, he said.