AASHTO Journal - Louisiana DOTD Celebrates Start of $360M Bridge Project

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development recently hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction on the $360 million Jimmie Davis Bridge project that carries LA 511 over the Red River, connecting the Caddo and Bossier parishes.

[Above photo by Louisiana DOTD]

The agency said this project will build a new four-lane bridge across the river, doubling the current capacity as one the metro area’s five integral river crossings.

In addition to the bridge, LA 511 on both sides of the river will be widened and reconstructed to accommodate the alignment of the new structure and to facilitate the anticipated increase in traffic volume as a result of the expanded capacity of the bridge.

Louisiana DOTD added that the new bridge should be complete and open for traffic in early 2027.

[Editor’s note: In other bridge news, the “time lapse” video below by Rhode Island Department of Transportation chronicles the recent demolition and replacement of the Providence Street Bridge.]

“Infrastructure is a vital component to a healthy economy. Our roads, bridges, and transportation networks are what move our state’s people and commerce,” said Governor Jeff Landry (R) in a statement.

“Strategic infrastructure investments – such as this new Jimmie Davis Bridge – are essential for our businesses to thrive in an increasingly global economy, and for our residents to make safe and efficient commutes each and every day,” he noted.

“[This] is more than simply a bridge,” said Louisiana DOTD Secretary Joe Donahue. “This structure is truly a symbol of growth and development, and is an incredibly substantial investment in our transportation system after years of dedication by numerous stakeholders to the project’s continued development.”

[Editor’s note: This blog post by the Washington State Department of Transportation provides a behind-the-scenes look at complexities involved in new bridge construction; in this particular case, the building of the new Elwha River Bridge.]

He added that, as with many projects of such size and scope, arriving at the construction phase for the new bridge came after several twists and turns along the way.

The feasibility stage for a proposed new Jimmie Davis Bridge launched in 2008, and later moved into the environmental phase that included several public outreach meetings to garner feedback from the community.

The environmental phase also included the evaluation of several various design alternatives before arriving at the current selection, which is a modernized four-lane structure with a concrete median divider. The interchange ramps that provide access to the bridge will also be rebuilt as part of this project, Louisiana DOTD noted.