The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) proposes to replace the Cane River Bridge on Church Street, between Front Street and Williams Avenue, in the city of Natchitoches, Louisiana, located in Natchitoches Parish.
The existing Cane River Bridge at Church Street (Lat 31.760718, Long -93.084624), constructed in 1936, is a two-lane concrete deck girder bridge with two 12’ bi-directional travel lanes and four foot wide sidewalks on either side. The bridge is located within the Natchitoches Historic Landmark District. The bridge has been determined ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
Three alternatives and one (1) sub-alternative are being carried forward from the Stage 0/Feasibility Study into this Environmental Assessment (EA) for the replacement of the bridge on existing or slightly off-set alignment, with a possible new temporary detour bridge at Highland Park Drive (~Lat 31.771629, Long -93.084819). The proposed replacement bridge is expected to remain two-lanes. The type, dimensions, and aesthetics of any permanent replacement bridge or detour bridge will be determined during the EA process. The EA will also include the analysis of up to three (3) NEPA-derived alternatives, as well as the No-Build Alternative.
Project alternatives will be further developed in an effort to avoid or minimize environmental, social and economic impacts, while improving functionality, durability, adequate corrosion protection and ease of inspection and future maintenance. These alternatives will strive to provide a safe and aesthetically pleasant structure for the public while meeting the needs of the Natchitoches Historic Landmark District.
The objective of this project is to provide the planning, public outreach, and engineering and environmental services necessary to document public input and other information necessary for the LADOTD and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to reach an environmental decision for the proposed bridge replacement.