DOTD has the responsibility of maintaining state highways and interstate highways under state jurisdiction. This includes the maintenance and updating of existing highways as well as planning, design, and building of new highways. DOTD is also in charge of the
bridge management system for planning and design, planning, building, inspection, maintenance, and even replacement of bridges in Louisiana. The
Transportation Infrastructure Model for Economic Development or
TIMED Program is an ongoing $5 billion program, including funding to widen over of Louisiana state highways from two lanes to four. "TIMED" is also over construction or modifying several bridges including the
John James Audubon Bridge,
Huey P. Long Bridge and
Florida Avenue Bridge. DOTD operates traffic cameras in eight cities along
Interstate 10 and
Interstate 12 and in
Shreveport as
intelligent transportation systems (ITS).
Hurricane evacuation , after
Hurricane Katrina The DOTD has been active in addressing the increased awareness for effective evacuation plans in the event of hurricanes threatening southeast Louisiana, and the
Greater New Orleans area in particular. Following lessons learned during
Hurricane Georges in 1998 DOTD has constructed
contraflow lanes, crossover lanes, and made agreements with
Mississippi officials to implement the contraflow plan in the event of future hurricane threats. This is a plan where all the traffic is directed in the same direction and marked with appropriate signs and signals. These plans were tested and modified following
Hurricane Ivan in 2004 as residents of the New Orleans area spent upwards of 18 hours in traffic. These changes included the strategic distribution of traffic control devices, improved coordination of police personnel, and wide distribution of information and maps to the public depicting the state's phased evacuation plan and the various contraflow routes. These changes were tested and successful in August 2005 when New Orleans and the surrounding parishes were placed under a mandatory evacuation in advance of
Hurricane Katrina.
Roadside vegetation The DOTD has a department for roadside vegetation granted by Act No. 682 of the Regular Session of the State Legislature of 1989. There is a DOTD Chief Architect and a DOTD Chief Engineer and each district has a district roadside development coordinator. Mowing of interstate and Louisiana highways are under the jurisdiction of Roadside Development and all road construction and improvements are subject to inspection and approval. The department adopted a manual that sets guidelines and rules for landscaping, wildflowers, mowing, and spraying herbicides and pesticides. The state has an aggressive stance on the preservation and planting of wildflowers. The guidelines state that mowing should be a minimum of three times a year on interstate highways and biannually on state highways. The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated the Louisiana Department of Agriculture to enforce compliance of applicators of herbicides or pesticides with training provided by the Louisiana Extension program. The District Roadside Development Coordinator must be licensed by the state and be proficient in all aspects of pesticides and herbicides. ==Ports and port facilities==