DOTD, Governor, state and local leaders celebrate completion of US 190 Collins Bridge Project in St. Tammany Parish
Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 1:43:21 PM
Covington, LA — Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry joined Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) Secretary Glenn Ledet and state and local leaders today at a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the $30 million US 190 (US 190B to LA 437) Collins Bridge and Widening Project in St. Tammany Parish.
“This project shows what progress looks like when we invest in Louisiana’s growing communities,” said Gov. Jeff Landry. “By improving this critical corridor, we’re supporting economic growth, improving safety, and making it easier for families and businesses to move through one of the fastest-growing areas of our state. Investments like this help position Louisiana for continued success.”
The project included construction of a new bridge adjacent to the existing Bogue Falaya River Bridge, as well as the widening of US 190 (Collins Boulevard) from the US 190/US 190B intersection to the intersection of US 190 and LA 437 (Lee Road). The improvements allow two full travel lanes in each direction across the river and eliminate a long-standing bottleneck in the corridor.
"Every minute matters when Louisiana families are evacuating from a storm, and I'm proud to have secured $5 million in federal funds for this state highway project in St. Tammany Parish at Hwy 190 and Collins Boulevard,” said Majority Leader Steve Scalise. “Working alongside the state and parish, I'm glad we were able to complete this new bridge and more lanes to relieve the congestion and safety issues for this vital evacuation route, allowing more Louisiana families to go about their day and get to safety faster when it's needed most."
“This project advances two core priorities for DOTD: safety and efficiency,” said DOTD Secretary Glenn Ledet. “For years, traffic in this area was forced through a narrow crossing that created congestion and safety concerns. Today, drivers have a safer, more reliable route that better reflects how this community has grown and will continue to grow.”
In addition to the new bridge, the project also features new asphalt pavement, improved drainage, new traffic signals, newly constructed highway dividers, and designated U-turn locations. These improvements are designed to enhance traffic flow and safety by reducing conflict points and limiting crashes that result in serious injuries.
Prior to construction, traffic traveling on the three-lane section of US 190 north of I-12 was reduced to a single two-lane bridge crossing the Bogue Falaya River, creating a bottleneck that often extended up to 1.25 miles. Under the new configuration, the existing bridge now carries two eastbound and southbound lanes, while the new bridge carries westbound and northbound traffic, providing four total travel lanes across the river.
The project also included expanded traffic lanes on LA 437 (Lee Road) at the Collins Boulevard intersection, which are expected to reduce queuing time for traffic on Lee Road and West 30th Avenue. The nearby Tammany Trace has reopened with new modifications and repairs following construction.
“This project is the result of nearly 30 years of persistence and partnership, and I’m proud to have helped finally deliver the funding to make it a reality for our community,” said State Senator Patrick McMath. “It’s another important step toward providing safe, reliable, and efficient infrastructure so that St. Tammany and Louisiana can continue to thrive.”
“The citizens of St. Tammany have looked forward to this day for decades,” said St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper. “In the few days since the Collins Boulevard expansion has been completed and opened, our families have noticed life-changing impacts. I’d like to thank Governor Landry, our Northshore legislative delegation, our partners at DOTD, and all community stakeholders who helped bring this project to fruition.”
“Since the completion of the bridge, the improvement in traffic flow has far exceeded our expectations,” said Covington Mayor Mark Johnson. “Drivers report on social media that they’ve reduced their commute time by 15, 20 and 25 minutes. On behalf of the City of Covington, we are very grateful to DOTD and the Governor’s office for making this a reality, and to Congressman Steve Scalise for his help with federal funding.”
The US 190 Collins Bridge Project represents a $30 million investment in one of St. Tammany Parish’s most heavily traveled corridors, carrying approximately 50,000 vehicles per day and serving as a key connector between several Louisiana highways, including LA 21, LA 36, LA 25, and US 190B.
DOTD thanks residents, businesses, and commuters for their patience during construction and appreciates the continued partnership with St. Tammany Parish, the City of Covington, and project contractors throughout the life of the project.