UPDATE: DOTD Announces $1.7 Million Bridge Replacement Project on E. Martial Avenue
Friday, August 14, 2026 at 11:02:00 AM
UPDATE: The date for this bridge closure has been pushed back until August 24, 2026.
LAFAYETTE, La. — The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) will begin a $1.7 million off-system bridge replacement project on E. Martial Avenue in Lafayette, replacing the existing bridge and improving safety and long-term reliability for the traveling public.
Beginning Monday, August 17, 2026, the bridge located in the 400 block of E. Martial Avenue will be closed to through traffic. The closure is expected to remain in place through May 17, 2027, while construction is underway.
The existing three-span bridge, which is supported by timber piles and includes an offset sidewalk, will be replaced with a new three-span slab bridge supported by concrete piles. The project will also include two sidewalks, asphalt approaches, subsurface drainage and erosion control improvements.
Motorists should plan ahead and allow additional travel time during construction. Local access will be maintained, and detour routes will be available for motorists traveling around the bridge closure.
The designated detour routes will include:
- Kaliste Saloom Road
- Camellia Boulevard
- E. Bluebird Drive
Motorists are encouraged to use caution in and around the work zone, follow posted signage and watch for construction activity.
DOTD appreciates the traveling public's patience and encourages motorists to plan ahead, follow posted detour routes and drive cautiously through construction areas.
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