Construction Closes Busy Bridge in Ouachita Parish

The holiday weekend is finally here, but as you get back to work Monday you may have to take a different route. Construction is set to begin on a busy bridge in Ouachita Parish. If you frequently travel across the Bayou Oaks Bridge near Finks Hideaway in Monroe, youll be redirected and it might be a little tricky. This is a step by step of how to make your way around the construction. This bridge may seem small and not important but it connects the Swartz area to the rest of Monroe. People living there say it will be an inconvenience when it closes Monday but its work that needs to be done. Several signs were posted Thursday notifying people in the Swartz area that construction on the Bayou Oaks Bridge crossing over the L-11 canal begins Monday. David Lindzay, who lives right next to the bridge says, “They say this bridge is unsafe to travel on and if it is, its a good thing its going to be fixed." But many people living in the area just want to know how long construction will take. “Some of them say 2-3 weeks, some of them say 2-3 months. I dont know. They dont know," said Lindzay. The Ouachita Parish Public Works Department says contractors have 60 days to complete the project and they dont expect it to take any longer than that. Work is being done to replace one of the main support pilings. The piling has rotted so the bridge deck will have to be removed; a new piling has to be driven in beside the rotted one and the bridge deck put back in place. While the bridge is closed, traffic will be diverted in front of Mr. Lindzays house on Dillingham Dr. Drivers will be directed from Dillingham to Lakewood Dr. then onto Somerset, where they can then cross the bridge over Bayou Desiard. Lindzay says even though he lives so close to where the construction will be going on, hes not too concerned about the traffic that will be coming past his home. “This is the most traveled highway in Ouachita Parish, so I’m used to the traffic, “ so Lindzay says, “it doesnt bother me just as long as they stay off my property and it doesn’t tear up my yard." But Beth Stokes, who also lives close by is angry about the traffic and wonders why the project has to be done now. "Why didnt they wait a couple more months until summer when the kids are out of school." That bridge will close at about 8 am Monday, so plan ahead. (Copyright 2008, NBC 10/Fox 14 News, Written by Casey Ferrand)