SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) - The Jimmie Davis Bridge will soon have a new look but also might come with a major traffic headache.
The Times reports (https://bit.ly/1lYUIjE) the bridge will be painted purple after a vote of residents. Blue was the second choice of color followed by red.
The painting of the bridge is just part of the renovations that will cause the bridge to be closed for a year, beginning at the start of 2015. Other renovations include installing lighting, re-decking the bridge and structural repairs.
The bridge connects Shreveport and Bossier City over the Red River. Its almost 50 years old and there are some things that need to be updated.
“When we do start the project, we will close the bridge for about one year. We’re going to do some structural repairs underneath the bridge. We’re also going to re-deck the bridge which is the portion of the bridge you drive over. We’re also going to install lighting so that motorists have a little more visibility, and then in the end, we’ll paint the bridge,” says Department of Transportation and Development spokeswoman Susan Stafford.
KSLA-TV reports (https://bit.ly/1mCJEeV) state transportation officials want drivers to start thinking about other ways to cross the river. DOTD said some alternative routes include the Shreveport-Barksdale Bridge, Texas Street Bridge and the I-20/I-220 interstate systems.
“We want to push that out now. We want that message for people to realize now that they need to start thinking about those alternatives, how to get to work, how to get the kids to school, because it is going to be an inconvenience. But the end project is going to be a nicer bridge, it’s going to be safer and it’s going to last longer,” Stafford said.
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