Lafayette's Ayreshire Bridge Set to Re-Open

Posted: Nov 9, 2011 11:34 PM by Jim Hummel
Updated: Nov 9, 2011 11:35 PM

It's been closed for five months, but come Friday afternoon the Ayreshire Drive bridge will re-open to the 15,000 drivers that cross the bridge everyday.

"The contractor has built this bridge in five months, and he's actually ahead of schedule," said the LCG Director of Public Works, Tom Carroll. "Anytime you have an inconvenience it's tough on the motoring public, but it will be open Friday afternoon."

The bridge was shut down this spring for repairs to both the structure and the culvert below. The work came at a pricetag of about $500-thousand, but also had a financial impact on nearby businesses.

"It hasn't like crippled our business, but it's affected it," said Ross Watson, of Little Veron's grocery. Like other business in the immediate area, Watson says in the five months since the bridge has been closed there's been a slight slump in business.

"The wait is well worth it," said Carroll. "We've got a bridge that's going to last for years to come and it will be open Friday afternoon."

Jim Hummel