BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has begun development on a project designed to improve drainage along I-12 in both East Baton Rouge and Livingston parishes during heavy rainfall events. 

The 13-mile-long project was bid on in June and is expected to cost $6.4 million. 

The project will stretch from East Baton Rouge Parish near the Livingston Parish line and continue through Livingston Parish.

Construction will not occur continuously along the corridor; instead, it will be concentrated at seven separate locations totaling approximately 2.4 miles.

DOTD says the project will include modifying sections of the existing concrete median barrier system to allow water to move more efficiently across the interstate median during heavy rain while maintaining the continuous concrete barrier system required for interstate safety.

Work on the project is expected to start at the end of September and continue through late 2027 or early 2028.