BATON ROUGE – What began as a routine detour has evolved into a fully functioning roadside economy, as drivers waiting at the Pecue and Airline Hwy traffic light have opened a farmers market along the shoulder after enduring what many describe as “enough time to start a podcast and lose interest in it” at the intersection.
The surge comes after the recent opening of the Pecue Lane interstate interchange, which redirected thousands of daily commuters down Pecue Lane and into the previously quiet crossing at Airline. Despite the sudden influx, the traffic light remains unchanged, still calibrated for what officials described as “a few cars that may come through.”
With only a handful of cars making it through each cycle, stranded drivers have adapted. Vendors now offer snacks, drinks, and “Cycle Survival Kits” to neighboring vehicles, many of whom have not advanced more than a few car lengths in a couple of hours.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development confirmed they are “aware of the increased traffic” and are currently in the early stages of “looking into possibly considering contracting at least six feasibility studies to determine if adjusting the light cycle might be warranted.”
Drivers near the back of the line have begun relying exclusively on DoorDash from vendors up front, calling it “the only efficient system currently operating at Pecue and Airline.”
