Over $115 million in has been spent under the administration of Gov. Bobby Jindal in road improvements in St. Tammany Parish since he took office, according to an information sheet provided by the governor’s press secretary, Kyle Plotkin.

Included in this figure is the appropriation of $15 million for the construction of a new interchange on Interstate 12 at Louisiana Highway 1088 that will lead to the new Lakeshore High School that opens next week.

Although traffic concerns for the new high school will not be resolved at the start of the school year, the new interchange will provide relief and convenience for students, parents and faculty when completed, estimated to be sometime next year. Jindal addressed the joint luncheon of the Chambers of Commerce of the parish on Tuesday and specific information about his administration’s accomplishments in St. Tammany were provided in a handout distributed to attendees.

Among the projects undertaken are $27 million for the resurfacing and widening of U. S. Highway 190 from Louisiana Highway 22 to Bayou Castine and $1.3 million for the resurfacing of Louisiana Highway 21 from Louisiana Highway 36 to Louisiana Highway 1084.

Other appropriations for road improvements in the parish include $30 million for the widening of U. S. Interstate 12 from U.S. Highway 11 to the Interstate 59/Interstate 12/Interstate 10 interchange; $7.5 million for the interchange of La. 21 at I-12; and $5 million for improvements to the interchange of U. S. 11 at I-12.

According to the information provided, more than $20 million in state and federal funds were used last year to build and nourish more than 550 acres of marsh near Goose Point near the mouth of Bayou Lacombe in Lake Pontchartrain. Nearly $8 million is being invested in marsh creation and ecosystem restoration in St. Tammany over the next two years.

The legislature approved $290 million to be committed to coastal restoration and hurricane protection, including $6.3 million to use dredged materials from navigation channels and the concrete from the soon to be demolished Twin Spans.

Another project includes $1.5 million for a culvert project to address the erosion of the W-14 Canal behind Slidell Memorial Hospital in Slidell.

Aside from the monetary commitments to St. Tammany, 91 people from the parish serve on state boards and commissions.

Jindal presented a check to several municipalities and the parish for projects including block grants and hurricane recovery from Gustav and Ike at the luncheon.