Motorists in Natchitoches, Grant, Rapides, and Winn Parishes should prepare for upcoming bridge maintenance that may affect their daily commutes. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has announced construction work slated to begin on Monday, May 26, focusing on joint seal rehabilitation in an effort to maintain the longevity and safety of four crucial bridges within these parishes. The project impacts routes on LA 1, US 165, US 71, and US 167, as reported by DOTD.
While through traffic is promised to be maintained throughout the duration of the construction, advisories are in place to expect some delays. Single lane closures will occur, but Progressive Construction Company, L.L.C. — the project's awarded contractor with a bid of $222,980.00 — is mandated to allow seamlessly to flow through traffic at all times. This information comes according to the same DOTD notification, revealing a timetable of around 30 calendar days earmarked for completion of the project’s tasks.
Given the nature of the work, oversize and emergency vehicles will have passage throughout the construction zones, mitigating the impact on critical services and transport of oversized goods. Importantly, DOTD underscores that there will not be designated detour routes for this project, further hinting at the intention to minimize disruptions to the flow of daily traffic.
In the interest of safety, the public is being urged by DOTD to "please drive with caution through the construction site and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment."
