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A 700-acre, 1,600-home community is coming to Youngsville, with construction beginning as early as next year.Ìý

The news of the development elicited concern from some residents, who say rapid growth in the small suburban city has caused outsized traffic problems.

But there are plans to alleviate some of the traffic woes the city faces, said Youngsville Mayor Ken Ritter.

The largest project in the city currently is the widening of Youngsville Highway on the city's north side and a major arterial road. The project began in 2023 after the city took control of the road from the state in 2021.

The first phase of improvements is expected to be completed by 2026, with a roundabout connecting the highway with Fortune Road opening this summer. Construction will then continue southward.

Another project that is about to start is an improvement of South Larriviere Road near Southside High School. It's expected to begin sometime in the summer, Ritter said. It will be a total reconcentration and widening of the road with sidewalks.Ìý

Construction is expected to last 12 months.Ìý

Read more: Work has begun to double the size of Sugar Mill Pond. It will supercharge more growth in Youngsville.

Ritter said the city could one day see the expansion of Chemin Metairie, at least the portion that falls within the city.Ìý

"As soon as we have funding and as soon as we make that a priority, then we can expand Chemin Metairie from basically East Milton, where Rouse's is, all the way to nearly Highway 90," he said.

The mayor said he is also looking at grants to fund an improved roundabout with dedicated turn lanes near Rouse's Market on East Milton Avenue. In the meantime, the city is looking for ways to add turn lanes to East Milton Avenue from the Field Crest neighborhood to the Crawfish Boss location.Ìý

However, some of the most nagging traffic jams are outside of the city limits or on roads either controlled by the parish or the state, Ritter said. Those places include all of Verot School Road and problematic intersections such as Chemin Metairie and Fortune Road.Ìý

"The fact that a road hasn't been in our jurisdiction hasn't stopped us before, but the reality is, we can't singularly bail out every government agency of their responsibility," Ritter said.

Read more:ÌýYoungsville adopts $200 million traffic plan: 'Construction for the foreseeable future'

Verot School Road and its improvement is something that Ritter has pushed for a long time. The road, which is controlled by the state, is one of the major arterial roads in Youngsville and can become regularly clogged during morning and afternoon rushes.Ìý

There was state capital outlay money out there for improvements, said Ritter, who collaborated closely with former Mayor-President Josh Guillory to bring the project to fruition.

But when Guillory lost reelection, the project was no longer a priority to Monique Boulet's administration, Ritter said.Ìý

"I'm not saying that offers an excuse." Ritter said, "What I'm saying is that we all need to be making a concerted effort to work with the state, work with the parish."

Boulet did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ritter, in an interview after the development announcement, said that the Bailey Grove project has been a known quantity since he took office in 2015.Ìý

He added that city improvements to utilities, like water and sewage, and to roads have been made with the understanding that a massive community like this would come to the town. Bailey Grove, being so large, will likely take 20-25 years to be completed, giving the city ample time to make more improvements, Ritter said.

"We really were just focused on where we were growing and to make sure that we had our best foot forward. We've been preparing for this moment," he said.