HAUGHTON, La. - If you travel through Haughton on state Highway 3227, you will probably notice an odd sight -- buildings appearing to be built backwards.
That means Sonic, a liquor store and PJ’s coffee have the fronts of their businesses facing away, not toward the highway. And even some locals don't even know they're there.
“We still get people walking in here every day saying we had no idea y’all were here or we never knew what was inside those buildings,” said Christian Mudd, Sterling Spirits liquor store owner.
Christian Mudd
Originally Highway 3227 was planned to be built in front of the buildings. So, the business owners built accordingly. However, the road hasn’t been built.
Business owners have been given multiple dates the road was supposed to be completed. But none of them thought it would take this long.
Mudd donated the right-of way-for the road to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development around September 2020. He said he was told the road would be done two years later.
However, dirt still hasn't started turning.
“I understand construction may be slow at times, but we are really hoping to get this thing out in front of us,” said Mudd.
“We're not sure when it is going to be built. They just keep telling us they're not sure,” said Joshua Cox, owner of PJ’s coffee.
Business owners say this inconvenience has become a hardship for their bottom line.
“I feel like we've lost revenue. We've got signage on the back of the building which came in at an additional cost, but signage on the front and we're just trying to generate business,” said Mudd.
Joshua Cox
At this point, the owners say they’re not upset. They just want clarity.
“We're excited to get the road built. You know, we're not trying to complain or anything, just kind of wondering when it's going to happen,” said Cox.
The original project was re-alignment of the road as well as widening a portion of state Highway 157 due to an increase in traffic in that area. However, a lack of funding changed the plans.
“So, all of this was going to be built at one time and then due to funding constraints, we had to separate it into two,” said Erin Buchanan, DOTD public information officer.
In November, construction of the widening of the highways started, pushing the realignment portion of the project until the next legislative session for funding. That left the business owners still wondering which way is forward.
The 2024 legislative session started Monday. Funding for the project should be considered and potentially moved into the highway priority program.
