Ground has been broken on the long awaited Jimmie Davis Bridge replacement project. The 360 million dollar project will be a new bridge connecting south Bossier City and Shreveport. DOTD Secretary Joe Donahue says the project, which has been in development since 2008, is a big deal for Louisiana.
“This is an exciting day not just for Shreveport and Bossier City, but also for DOTD,” he says. “It’s not every day we break ground on a project of this size and scope. It’s been a long time coming.”
The new bridge will have two more lanes, a median, and three spaces for U-turns; and the old bridge will be converted into a walking bridge. The project will also see LA-511 widened near the bridge to accommodate the extra lanes. Donahue says this project is more than just a bridge, “it’s a gateway between two busy communities, with the existing bridge serving more than twenty-five thousand vehicles each and every day currently.”
The current bridge was built in 1968 and bridges the gap between Caddo and Bossier parishes. This project not only creates a new bridge with more lanes, but also transitions the old bridge into a walking bridge.
“The new four-lane bridge will be a true symbol of connectivity between the two cities, invite renewed growth and development, and represents a substantial investment in our state’s transportation system,” says Donahue.
The new bridge is expected to be completed by late 2026.
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