Temporary LED Lights Installed on Nicholson Drive Near LSU

Temporary LED Lights Installed on Nicholson Drive Near LSU

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Temporary LED lights are now illuminating a stretch of Nicholson Drive near LSU to improve visibility for drivers and pedestrians, WAFB reported.

The installation follows an October 18 crash that killed 21-year-old Leah Victoria Fonte and 21-year-old Shane David Hirstius. Fonte, an LSU senior, died at the scene, while Hirstius, a firefighter, later died at a hospital, according to Baton Rouge police.

Baton Rouge police stated the couple was walking along the shoulder when a vehicle veered off the roadway and struck them. The driver, Mia Camille Dawson, was arrested on charges including vehicular homicide, operating while impaired, and hit-and-run driving.

Officials have implemented several immediate adjustments to the area between Brightside Drive and Bob Pettit Boulevard. In addition to the new lighting, the walking path has been repaved, and the speed limit has been lowered from 45 mph to 35 mph.

East Baton Rouge Transportation Director Fred Raiford noted that the stretch had previously been dark. He said officials wanted to ensure drivers could see people walking by providing additional roadway lighting.

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“We wanted to be sure that people saw people walking, provide a little additional lighting for the roadway,” Raiford said.

State Rep. Dixon McMakin, representing District 68, noted that the temporary lights are intended to help pedestrians feel safer and increase their visibility. He also expressed a desire to see concrete barricades installed during the ongoing construction period.

McMakin, who noted that officials reached out to partners including the DOTD, LSU Police, the sheriff’s office, and Entergy regarding the lighting needs, questioned if the additional light would have prevented the October accident.

“Before the sidewalk gets finished during this road project, we’ve got to have more light out there,” McMakin said.

New LED lights added to Nicholson Drive after deadly crash near LSU

These temporary measures are part of a larger context involving the MOVEBR road improvement project. This long-term initiative includes plans for a shared-use path, improved pedestrian crossings, and permanent additional lighting.

The work is extensive, and Raiford stated that utility relocation could take at least another year. Following that phase, construction is expected to last approximately another year and a half, depending on weather conditions.

Officials estimate the full project could reach completion in late 2028 or early 2029. Raiford indicated that officials are currently considering whether further lighting is required between Bob Pettit Boulevard and Gurrier Avenue.

The long-term impact on traffic flow remains uncertain. The DOTD has stated it is unclear whether the current 35 mph speed limit will remain in place once the construction project is finished.

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