By Laura Hunt Miller
RUSTON, La. — Drivers along East Kentucky Avenue may have noticed the steady line of construction cones— they are part of one of the largest and most carefully phased infrastructure projects Ruston has ever undertaken, according to Mayor Ronny Walker.
When complete, the $12 million project will transform the corridor into a three-lane roadway featuring two travel lanes and a center turn lane, along with a dedicated accessible sidewalk, bike lane and new bridges at Briarhill and Cedar Creek roads.
The improvements originated from the Moving Ruston Forward initiative, a long-term plan launched nearly a decade ago to address population and traffic growth. While many Louisiana towns saw declines, Ruston has added more than 2,000 residents and 1,400 Louisiana Tech students since 1990, a 10–15% increase in local drivers.
The project is advancing in multiple phases:
Phase one upgraded sewer, electric and fiber infrastructure, and included new bridge construction.
Phase two expanded drainage capacity, a priority following the historic 2016 flooding.
Phase three relocated the Cedar Creek Road intersection, eliminating a hazardous blind curve.
Phase four, currently underway, is widening the stretch from Goodwin Road to Highway 33. A temporary lane is keeping traffic flowing while the south side is rebuilt with new drainage, utilities and bike access.
Phase five, set for 2026, will extend the upgrades from Goodwin Road to Highway 167, completing the corridor.
The improvements are funded through several sources, including the city’s Tax Increment District (TID), which reinvests 40 percent of state-generated tax revenue into Ruston. Federal support also played a major role: Congresswoman Julia Letlow secured $6.4 million in Community Project Funding in 2022 as part of a broader infrastructure package for Louisiana’s 5th District. Additional support has come through the state’s Off-System Bridge Program and local utility budget.
Mayor Walker credits former Mayor Hilda Taylor Perritt with laying the groundwork for the TID, which has allowed Ruston to make more than $200 million in infrastructure investments over the past decade, including the Rock Island Greenway, the Ruston Sports Complex and the Monroe Street Corridor.
“In the last ten years we’ve done a wealth of roadwork, and it’s so much better,” Walker said. “Even Baton Rouge has recognized the significant investments our small town has made.”
Once complete, officials say East Kentucky Avenue will stand as one of the safest and most accessible multi-use corridors in Ruston. Motorists are urged to use caution. At any given time, 10–15 workers are on site, and Walker emphasized the importance of slowing down and staying alert near the project.
Meanwhile, drivers can expect additional construction zones in the months ahead, including state-managed refurbishments of the I-20 overpasses at Tech Drive, Trenton Street and Vienna Street, as well as city-led upgrades to Tarbutton Road to support the incoming Buc-ee’s development.
