March 04, 2021
FG Completes Highway 3127 Improvements on St. James Parish West Bank
Upholds voluntary commitment to enhance local infrastructure
ST. JAMES, LA — FG LA LLC (FG) has completed improvements to a 2.5 mile stretch of Highway 3127, widening it to a four lane highway with two new travel lanes on the West Bank in St. James Parish, near the site of its planned Sunshine Project. Completion of these improvements upholds FG’s commitment to enhance local infrastructure and minimize traffic impacts during construction and operations of the project.
“FG heard community concerns on local transportation needs and made good on its promise to meet those traffic needs now, before The Sunshine Project is constructed,” said Janile Parks, director of community and government relations at FG. “Completion of this work marks a major milestone for community safety, local infrastructure, and for the project itself. We’re grateful to our local construction contractors and their teams who completed these improvements safely and in record time.”
FG voluntarily funded, designed and constructed improvements to Highway 3127, including widening the roadway to four lanes, adding two new travel lanes and implementing drainage improvements and drainage crossings. The company undertook these improvements voluntarily and upheld its commitment to use local contractors and businesses to complete highway construction work. Further, with extensive and successful safety measures in place to protect against COVID-19, FG completed these improvements with zero COVID-19 cases among its construction workforce.
Outreach efforts began in the earliest days of The Sunshine Project’s development. FG actively works with local and state officials and the community to listen to concerns and help implement solutions.
St. James Parish President Pete Dufresne said, “With the recent announcement of Shell Convent’s closure, we have all come to realize how much of an impact industry can make on local government and the essential services we provide. With 74% of our tax revenue streaming directly from industry, I believe it is important that we partner together to bridge the gap between industry and our community to ensure that we build beneficial partnerships while holding industry to the highest standards to protect our residents and create a safe and sustainable future. I am grateful to Formosa for their early investment into our local infrastructure and community. The improvements made to Hwy 3127 will provide a safer roadway for our residents and prevent additional traffic congestion. We look forward to continuing a community focused relationship with Formosa and all of our industry partners where we can co-exist safely and continue to make St. James Parish a wonderful place to live, work and play.”
For Highway 3127 improvements, FG commissioned a traffic study in 2017, reported results to the Louisiana Department of Transportation in 2018, drafted plans in 2019 and began construction in 2020. In late 2019, in response to a legal challenge by project opponents, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers temporarily suspended one of FG’s permits related to preconstruction activities. The suspension provides for a period of permit re-evaluation, consistent with Corps regulations. In the interest of public safety, during its re-evaluation period the Corps enabled FG to continue certain preconstruction activities at the project site, including work on Highway 3127 and local drainage improvements.
“FG continues to work cooperatively with state and parish officials and residents to uphold its commitments, meet community needs and invest locally,” added Parks.
Additional information on The Sunshine Project can be found at www.SunshineProjectLA.com.
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About FG LA LLC: FG LA LLC (FG) is a member of Formosa Plastics Group (Formosa), a Taiwanese based conglomerate founded in 1954. Formosa has over 100,000 employees worldwide with locations in the USA, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia. Formosa’s major businesses are oil refining, petrochemicals, plastics, fibers, textiles, electronics, energy, steel, transportation, machinery, healthcare and biotech.
The Sunshine Project is FG’s $9.4 billion industrial complex planned for St. James Parish. The project is expected to create thousands of construction jobs and 1,200 permanent jobs over the next eight years. In early January 2020, FG received the permits needed to begin construction of The Sunshine Project. Once constructed,
the project will be one of the most innovative, single-site ethylene production complexes in the world and will make the plastic building blocks found in everyday products that help make our lives safer, healthier, cleaner and more efficient. FG’s products also help make life-saving PPE (personal protective equipment), including N95 and surgical masks needed in the fight against COVID-19. Demand for these products is expected
to increase over time, and The Sunshine Project will continue to help meet that demand.