Monroe Fabre Bridge reopens after replacement

The Monroe Fabre Bridge over Bayou Des Glaises has reopened to traffic following the completion of a nearly $1.85 million replacement project.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced Sept. 3 that work on the bridge, located on Big Bend Road, had been completed and the roadway reopened.

The bridge had been closed since March 18 while the old timber structure was removed and replaced.

The project included grading, base work, steel sheeting, asphalt, precast concrete piles and construction of a new precast concrete slab-span bridge.

The contract was awarded to Diamond B. Construction Co., L.L.C. for $1,843,288.25.

The bridge is owned and maintained by the Avoyelles Parish Police Jury and is located about 3.7 miles east of Pete Laborde Road.

DOTD had originally estimated the project would be completed by September, depending on weather and other construction conditions.

With the project now complete, motorists are once again able to travel across the Monroe Fabre Bridge on Big Bend Road.