BATON ROUGE, LA – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced today that the U.S. 80 Louisville Bridge will be opened to traffic by 8 p.m. on Friday, June 28, in preparation for the Fourth of July holiday.

Crews have been working to replace the bridge’s bearings since June 1. The bearings on the west side of the bridge have been installed and will allow DOTD to safely reopen the bridge to traffic. While the bridge is open, ramps on I-20 in Monroe will remain closed. The 5th Street entrance and exit ramps will be opened Friday afternoon and will close again on Tuesday, July 9, in preparation for the next closure.

The next closure is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, July 10, to allow crews to replace the bearings on the east side of the bridge. The closure is expected to last approximately four weeks. In an effort to minimize the length of the closure and reduce impacts to motorists, crews will be working around the clock. During the closure, DOTD encourages motorists to detour using I-20. This closure will not affect river barge traffic.

The work is part of an $8.2 million project to rehabilitate and extend the life of the bridge. In addition to replacing the bearings, the project included replacing the bridge’s metal deck, installing steel railing and cleaning and painting the bridge. Work to replace the bearings is the final phase of the project.

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 930 miles of interstate and 13,000 bridges, 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).