Another Bridge Over The Vermilion In Lafayette? Yes, Please [OPINION]

According to the Daily Advertiser, Lafayette's leaders are hoping for a new bridge on Lafayette's Southside.

The current rumor is that city leaders want to extend South City Parkway from Johnston Street all the way to Kaliste Saloom.

My fingers are crossed, hoping that they DO go through with this project because (I hate to admit) from December 1 through January 10 or so, I avoid Ambassador Caffery from Congress to Verot.

Ambassador Caffery was supposed to be a "loop" around Lafayette; a by-pass of sorts; a way to get from I-10 to Kaliste Saloom (and beyond) without having to travel through the "city".  Now, especially during the holidays, it's quicker to drive through the city.

The current vision (as outlined in this story) is to extend the South City Parkway all the way to Kaliste Saloom or Verot School Road (or beyond), and have a bridge over the Vermilion to prevent people from driving into the river (don't laugh, I know some drivers who would).  If this is the case, here's my suggestion (DISCLAIMER:  I am NOT a city planner, traffic flow expert, engineer, over-paid boisterous consultant from "up North" or lawyer):  Let's make the new road a real loop, with minimal side-streets, NO stop signs, NO traffic signals, and ample merging/turning lanes so that traffic will flow as efficiently (read: quickly) as possible.  Make the intersections at Kaliste Saloom and Verot similar to interstate interchanges, so that there are no traffic signals, allowing traffic to flow.  (At this point, I can hear the developers' hand(s) shaking on their mouse(s) as they read this.  I am not anti-development; I am pro-flow!)

If developers want to develop the (now un-developed) area, put the back side of the development toward South City Parkway, with minimal and only merge-type exits and entry points.  Let's learn our lessons from the Ambassador Caffery project and make this new road a "real" loop.

Again, as stated in the disclaimer above, I am no expert, and I am certain that someone in one of the professions that I mentioned above will have (probably valid) arguments against my opinion but, hey, it's just one driver's opinion.

My goal with this project is to be able to get home after work during the holidays before 10pm.

(Advertiser, Google)