ST. MARTIN PARISH, La. ( KLFY ) — Although it is a project that should have taken only a few weeks to complete, construction continues off Anse Broussard Highway in Breaux Bridge after a culvert collapsed in July.

Deidra Druilhet, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development public information officer, said the project should have only taken a few weeks to complete and DOTD understands the inconvenience that the ongoing construction causes.

“We do understand the inconvenience that this is having on the traveling public in that area. So, we do apologize for that,” Druihet said.

As part of a construction project off of La. 328, a D.O.T.D. subcontractor closed a section of the highway to replace a culvert near Bear Creek Circle.

The closure was only supposed to take approximately four weeks to finish, but it turned into a multi-month-long affair after the culvert collapsed. The DOTD said it was because of uncommon construction practices.

Motorists and people living in the area said the inconvenience of the closure is impacting everyone.

Breaux Bridge resident Tom Zaunbrecher said it was a “mess from the very beginning.”

“It’s very aggravating for people who live on this side of the road. Closer to busses, have to spend a lot of time picking up kids in this area all along here. What about emergency vehicles like ambulances? How long you think it took an ambulance to get here from Breaux Bridge?” Zaunbrecher said.

Druilhet asks for the public’s patience as the setback caused the project’s completion to take way longer than expected. The road is expected to reopen around late October, with the overall project expected to be complete in early 2025.

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