Johnston St. and Louisiana Ave. Infrastructure Improvements

Modernizing One of Lafayette’s Most Important Corridors

Johnston Street and Louisiana Avenue (from I-10 to Ambassador Caffery) is one of Lafayette’s primary transportation and commerce corridors that connects numerous residential neighborhoods, businesses, and institutions. Long plagued by intense traffic, non-existent drainage infrastructure along many segments of the roadway, unsafe multimodal infrastructure, and congested utility lines, the Johnston Street and Louisiana Avenue corridor is in need of significant infrastructure investment and modernization.

Seven Segments. One Vision

This project will break this 8.5 mile roadway into seven segments, to address infrastructure deficiencies in a way that aligns with the needs of each segment.

I-10 to Mudd Avenue
Mudd Avenue to Railroad Tracks near Evangeline Thruway
Railroad Tracks near Evangeline Thruway to E Lewis Street
E Lewis Street to Cajundome Boulevard
Cajundome Boulevard to Doucet Road
Doucet Road to Camellia Boulevard
Camellia Boulevard to Ambassador Caffery

Our Goals

Infrastructure Longevity: Build for long-term sustainability and maintenance.
Drainage Resilience: Install new stormwater systems to reduce flooding.
Economic Growth: Support businesses and redevelopment along the corridor.
Traffic Efficiency: Modernize intersections and improve signal timing.
Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety: Add sidewalks, crosswalks, and bike lanes.

Johnston St. has been a cornerstone of Lafayette’s history and economy, and as our city evolves, we have an opportunity to breathe new life into this area and re-instill a sense of community pride.

Lafayette Parish Mayor-President, Monique B. Boulet

Example view of Johnston Street featuring modernized shared walking/biking paths and improved accessibility.

Example view of establishing Johnston Street drainage and conveyance structure, as featured in Sept. 9, 2025 public meeting.

How We’re Funding This Work

More than $45 million is available today for Johnston Street and Louisiana Avenue Improvements from local, state, and federal sources. Future funding will be contingent upon state and federal approvals of local requests, grant applications coming to fruition, and additional local funding through our Capital Improvement Program Budget.

Progress To-Date

LCG has advanced this project by taking ownership of Johnston Street, removing it from DOTD control. This will allow for a faster delivery of infrastructure improvements and designs that better align with the needs of Lafayette and our residents, businesses, and The University of Louisiana.

Project Partners

LCG has selected the following firms to begin developing conceptual layouts for roadway improvements, surveying existing conditions, and engineering constructable projects:

Important Dates

Lafayette Wins $22.7M During 2026 Legislative Session June 26, 2026

Lafayette Consolidated Government celebrated a series of wins from the 2026 Regular Legislative Session, including more than $19M in state funding towards the Johnston St. project.

$2,500,000 in Priority 1 funding for the Johnston Street Project, with another $5,000,000 in Priority 5 funding.
$2,000,000 in Priority 2 funding and $10,000,000 in Priority 5 funding for the Downtown/Freetown/UL Drainage improvement project.

Read more by viewing the press release.

Lafayette Awarded Nearly $8 Million in Federal Safe Streets Grant December 30, 2025

LCG has been awarded $7,986,192 in federal funding through the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program to implement critical safety improvements along Johnston Street. The grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, will support the Connecting Johnston: A Safer Street for Families and Futures project—an investment focused on improving safety, access, and mobility along approximately 1.3 miles of Johnston Street specifically between Bertrand Drive and Churchill Drive.

Read the full announcement here.

$7.5M Secured in Federal Funding for Johnston St. Infrastructure Improvements October 20, 2025

Funding will advance the Johnston Street and Louisiana Avenue Revitalization Initiative, including roadway, safety, and drainage improvements near Downtown Lafayette and the University of Louisiana campus. These improvements are expected to reduce flooding concerns, improve traffic safety, and support neighborhood and economic revitalization.

Read the full announcement here.

PSRC Recommends Engineering Firms to Advance Project October 10, 2025

LCG's Professional Services Review Committee (PSRC) recommends four engineering firms to advance engineering and design along Johnston Street corridor.

Public Meeting September 9, 2025

Public meeting held at the Lafayette Public Library regarding drainage in the Downtown, Midtown, and Freetown areas. Click Here to view presentation materials.

LCG Takes Ownership of Johnston St. from DOTD May 2025

LCG takes ownership of Johnston St. from Ambassador Caffery Parkway to N. College Road from DOTD.

City Ordinance #CO-037-2025

LCG Takes Ownership of Johnston St. from DOTD February 2022

LCG accepts Johnston Street from N/S College Road to US 90 (SW Evangeline Thruway) from DOTD

City Ordinance #CO-011-2022

Community Survey

Business Owner Survey

Interactive Map Survey