ST. LANDRY PARISH, La. (KLFY) – Several viewers reached out to News 10 about the status of two St. Landry Parish bridges.
They asked why work had come to a halt at the Rozena Road Bridge site in Lawtell and the Billeaux Road Bridge site in Cankton.
St. Landry Parish President Bill Fontenot said both bridges are under a single contract. He said there have been some work stoppages because of the weather.
“We’ve had a lot of rain in the last two or three months so that has slowed projects down,” Fontenot said.
The Rozena Road Bridge is made of concrete and will replace a 70 year-old wooden bridge.
The Billeaux Road Bridge will replace a bridge that’s been shut down for two years. The Parish is building a new 54-foot long box culvert bridge.
Fontenot said work on both bridges began in January. They were supposed to be finished in August. But he insists the work hasn’t stopped completely.
“Sometimes weather affected one more than the other because they’re maybe 15 miles apart, so we may have a downpour at one location but not at the other,” said Fontenot.
Fontenot said the projects should be done by the end of the year, possibly sooner.
“We’re anxious to get them open,” he said. “I think the citizens have shown a lot of good patience and understanding.”
Fontenot said the price tag for both bridges is $1.2 million. He said it was cheaper to have two bridges built in the same contract.