BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced today that work on the Fort Buhlow Bridge replacement project will begin on Friday, Jan. 28.

Work on the $82.9 million project will involve replacing the existing two-lane Fort Buhlow Bridge on U.S. 71/U.S. 165 over the Red River between Alexandria and Pineville with a new four-lane bridge. In addition, two new bridges will be constructed over the Kansas City Southern railroad tracks to accommodate two lanes of traffic in each direction. The project will also incorporate service roads in the vicinity of Buhlow Lake to provide easier access to citizens going to the airport and the Red River park areas. The new bridge is being built to the south of the existing bridge. This is the final project in a $917 million initiative to widen 157 miles of U.S. 165 from two to four lanes from I-10 to Bastrop.

"This is a very important project for the residents of central Louisiana," said DOTD Secretary Sherri H. LeBas. "The new bridge will not only provide for a safer river crossing, but also will help to bring relief from congestion to the more than 21,000 drivers using the bridge each day."

Work on the project is expected to last approximately three years. The contractor is Jensen Construction Co. of Tulsa, Okla.

For questions or to sign up to receive periodic e-mail updates about the project, contact DOTD’s Customer Service Center at 1-877-4LA-DOTD (1-877-452-3683) or by e-mail at dotdcs@la.gov. The center is open 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Learn more about the project by visiting the project’s Web page at www.dotd.la.gov. Click on "Projects" from the "Programs & Projects" section of the main menu on the left-hand side of the page and select the "Fort Buhlow Bridge Project" link.

You can also follow the Fort Buhlow Bridge Replacement Project on Facebook. Once you open a Facebook account, project information can be accessed by entering "Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development" or "Fort Buhlow Bridge Replacement Project" into the search field.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is committed to delivering transportation and public works systems that enhance the quality of life. In addition to more than 16,600 miles of roadway, including over 890 miles of interstate, DOTD supports the development of the state’s aviation, marine and rail infrastructures. Through this work, we are able to facilitate economic development, create job opportunities, improve vital evacuation routes, and make critical freight corridors safer and more efficient.

For more information, please visit www.dotd.la.gov, email dotdcs@la.gov, or call DOTD’s Customer Service Center at (225) 379-1232 or 1-877-4LADOTD (1-877-452-3683). Business hours are 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Motorists can access up-to-date travel information by dialing 511 or by visiting www.511la.org. Out-of-state travelers can call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511).