Update on the Jimmie Davis Bridge project. New lane closures announced

What is going on with the Jimmie Davis Bridge project?

This $360-million project will replace, repair and reconfigure the historic Jimmie Davis Bridge that connects Caddo and Bossier parishes. The Jimmie Davis Bridge, which was built in 1968, carries a traffic count of 25,500 vehicles a day.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development provided an update July 10 on the project that began in May.

Intermittent lane closures will occur July 16 on East 70th Street from Bert Kouns to the Jimmie Davis Bridge, according to DOTD.

These closures are necessary for the DOTD to re-stripe the eastbound lanes in preparation for construction of the new bridge.

The closures will begin at approximately 9 a.m. and will continue until 6 p.m.

This closure is part of Phase 1 — this project is separated into five phases.

Phase 1 began in May, and it is anticipated to take approximately six months. The completion date for the new bridge is scheduled for late 2026.

The new bridge will be four lanes and will include a raised median with three openings for U-turns. According to the DOTD, this configuration will improve traffic flow and ease congestion.

Once the new bridge is completed, the 1968 bridge will be transitioned into a walking bridge.

"It will be something that's very unique for north Louisiana," Erin Buchanan, DOTD public information officer previously said.

Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.