Blacktop Walkway Paved on Nicholson Drive

The temporary path near Tigerland follows a hit-and-run crash that killed two 21-year-olds, and new lighting is being added.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Accidents

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a single lamp post beside a smooth dark path leading toward a row of oak trees. — A newly paved temporary walkway opened Wednesday along Nicholson Drive near Tigerland, following a hit-and-run that killed two 21-year-olds walking home from bars; LSU and Entergy plan new lighting before Saturday's Alabama game. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

A newly paved blacktop walkway was installed along Nicholson Drive near Tigerland on Wednesday as a temporary solution while construction continues on the Nicholson Drive Project. The work follows a hit-and-run crash that fatally struck a couple walking home from the bars.

Why it matters

The walkway and planned lighting are direct safety responses to the deaths of two 21-year-olds at the corner of Nicholson and Lee Drive. Residents and visitors in the Tigerland area are the people most affected by the change in pedestrian conditions.

Two 21-year-olds, LSU student Leah Fonte and firefighter Shane Hirstius, were killed in the hit-and-run crash. The extraction does not report the current status of any suspect or investigation.

The players

LSU

Louisiana State University is the public university in Baton Rouge whose leaders are working with the city and Entergy on walkway lighting.

Entergy

Entergy is the regional electric utility serving Louisiana that is working with LSU and city leaders to add lighting along the Nicholson Drive walkway.

The details

A couple was struck by a car while walking home from the bars at the corner of Nicholson and Lee Drive. LSU and city leaders are working with Entergy to add lighting along the new walkway, and new lights are expected to be ready by Saturday for the Alabama game.

Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Blacktop walkway paved along Nicholson Drive.
Saturday, after November 4, 2026: New lights expected to be ready for the Alabama game.

Season Trajectory

The temporary blacktop walkway exists only while the Nicholson Drive Project remains under construction, and the sidewalk will be relocated to the opposite side of the street once that project finishes. The safety lighting timeline is tied to the start of football season game days in Tigerland.

Pedestrians walking through the Tigerland area on Nicholson Drive now have a paved path instead of the previous walking conditions while construction continues. New lighting is expected to improve visibility for people walking home near the Lee Drive intersection.

The takeaway

Pedestrians near Nicholson Drive should use the temporary walkway and watch for changes when the sidewalk moves to the opposite side of the street. Planning safe routes home from Tigerland bars is especially important during busy game weekends.

What happens next

The new lights are expected to be ready by Saturday for the Alabama game, and the sidewalk will move to the other side of Nicholson Drive at the end of the Nicholson Drive Project.