Breaux Bridge's historic downtown bridge will soon close for repairs and refurbishments that officials expect to last through next year.
Mayor Ricky Calais and DOTD officials say the renovations will begin on October 12 and likely will take around nine and a half months, or until around July 2021. DOTD estimates the bridge will reopen on July 18 of next year.
Although Calais said the closure will be a "major inconvenience" to Breaux Bridge residents and visitors, it's necessary to allow for the work to progress as quickly as possible.
Work will include structural, mechanical, and electrical repairs, along with cleaning and repainting the bridge as part of the overall bridge refurbishing project.
Detour routes include:
For westbound traffic - LA 336-1 (W. Bridge St.), west to LA 31 (Berard St.), north to LA 94 (East Mills Avenue), east to LA 328 (Rees St.), and south to LA 336-1 (E. Bridge St.).
For eastbound traffic - LA 328 (Rees St.), north to LA 94 (E. Mills Avenue), west to LA 31 (Berard St.), and south to LA 336-1 (W. Bridge St.).
Calais is working with DOTD to have a temporary traffic light installed at the intersection of Rees St. and Refinery St., and says crews have agreed to monitor traffic flow at the intersection and will make a decision around the end of October.
"We are hoping for a smooth project on the part of the contractor so they can be done and out of here as quickly as possible," said Calais. "Until then, drive safely as you make your way over the alternate routes available to us."
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