The Department of Transportation and Development is organizing a complete revamping of the Garrett Road and Kansas Lane corridors in order to move traffic more efficiently.

With work already starting on Garrett Road at Interstate-20, the Garrett Road-Kansas Lane project is moving rapidly. Construction crews currently have Garrett Road southbound from Millhaven Road to Pecanland Mall’s east entrance closed.

The planned Garrett/Kansas connector will take Garrett Road at I-20, build a new bridge next to the current one and build an overpass at Millhaven Road and the railroad. After the connector crosses Millhaven, it will meet the current Kansas Lane, which will allow for easier access to the Monroe Regional Airport from I-20.

“[The changes] will be nice because it is inconvenient getting over [to the mall],” said Rachel Williams, a graduate student from Daytona Beach, Fla. “I always feel like there’s no direct way to get out there.”

Closer to ULM, the DOTD is also planning an extension of Kansas Lane from US 80, also known as DeSiard Street, to US 165, meeting where the Forsythe Extension terminates at US 165.

The project is planned to come near the University, crossing Bayou DeSiard north of US 80, then turning west to parallel a section of Bon Aire Drive, eventually turning north near where Warhawk Way meets Bon Aire Drive, then crossing Old Sterlington Road, and meeting Forsythe Extension.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Amelia Braden, a sophomore mass communication major from Dallas. “It’s dumb to drive all the way down [Highway] 80 just to go to the mall.”

The price is about $36 million and may have to be completed in phases, according to Marshall Hill, the district 05 coordinator for the DOTD.