2022 Wait, Too Long for Lights

First the good news. The long-anticipated wait for a roadway lighting project on an extremely dangerous section of Hwy 165 in parts of Ouachita Parish was announced not long ago to cheers of "hallelujah". At least people were saying, "at last", something finally is going to be done about a situation that should have been done a long time ago. That was the "good news". We know that where there is good, bad is not far behind. The bad news is that the road lighting project scheduled on Hwy 165 between Winnsboro Road (Hwy 15) all the way to Richwood High School won't begin until bids are announced, leading to the selection of the company or companies to actually take the project, won't begin until May of 2022. What makes things difficult for residents in the Town of Richwood that is majority Black, is that the potential for the loss of more lives, is magnified. Just within a month, two young Black females, 18-year-old Shericka Hollins and 17-year-old Brianna Neal were killed when they were struck by a vehicle on a section of Hwy 165 that is very dark at night; making it difficult to cross safely. The Ouachita Parish Police Jury is the governmental agency that got approval from the state for the road lighting project, said that their hands are "basically tied" because bids for the project will not begin until May 2022, as determined by the Louisiana Dept. of Transportation and Development. Citizens of Ouachita Parish and especially those who reside in Richwood are concerned because even the loss of one life, is one too many, considering how long and how many times this particular situation has occurred on Hwy 165. Why is it that the slightly over 2 mile stretch from Winnsboro Road to Richwood High that stays in the dark, has been largely ignored over the years? How many more people will lose their lives? That's a question for which no one has an answer. However, we know that something can be done. In the meantime, concerned (and scared) citizens can go to meetings of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury and ask jurors who have been (and now aware) of how dire things are on Hwy 165 when it comes to human lives. Police jurors need to see concerned citizens flood the parish courthouse where jurors hold their bi-weekly meetings on the first and third Monday of each month. Voters who ask tough questions about short term solutions. In an earlier article, The Monroe Dispatch suggested reducing the speed limit at night to 40mph to Richwood High. Perhaps temporary lights such as those used when highway work is done at night which can be strategically placed along side of the roadway. Then there could be the possibility of having Louisiana State Troopers in the vicinity of those lights with their dome lights flashing, which always causes motorists to automatically slow down. However, the people on the police jury are much smarter than I. I am pretty sure they can come up with solutions that can help to save lives. 2022 is a long time to wait for change, especially when there is the potential for more deaths to occur, in that it could seem like an eternity if in fact, more lives are lost.

The Dispatch strongly encourages pedestrians to do their part in protecting themselves along Hwy 165. However, the current situation is a "two-way street", where both government, that consists of the Monroe area representatives, Democrat AND Republican do their part in a concerted effort with the concerned citizens of Richwood who need to see lights now rather than later, to let them know that they are not alone.

Photo Hwy 165 South Deaths