How Close Is New Caddo Lake Bridge to Being Opened?

It has been nearly three years that drivers on LA Hwy 1 near Oil City have had to take the long way around because the bridge over Caddo Lake was out.

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According to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, the wait for that new bridge and a much shorter drive, is almost over.

The DOTD states that the construction of the new, modernized bridge is now nearing completion.

The bulk of major construction on the $17.3 million bridge is finished, with items such as installation of concrete barrier rail and permanent signage and striping remaining.

Currently, the contractor is working on building the roadway approaches that will ultimately tie in to the new bridge.

Once the roadway approaches are complete, the permanent striping and signage will be installed on the entirety of the project.

The bridge is anticipated to fully open to traffic in early-October 2024, with progress dependent on weather conditions and other factors that can impact construction timelines.

The bridge serves as an important connector between the Towns of Mooringsport and Oil City, as well as points north and south.

The original structure, which was built in 1940, was removed in 2022 due to its deteriorating condition, as well as in an effort to expedite the project schedule.

Construction on the new bridge began in 2022 following necessary utility relocations.

Call 511, visit www.511la.org, or download the Louisiana 511 mobile app for additional information on current travel conditions.

Out-of-state travelers may call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511). Motorists may also monitor the LA DOTD website at www.dotd.la.gov, by selecting MyDOTD, or by visiting the DOTD Facebook and Twitter pages.