Drivers in Ascension Parish will face a temporary road closure as the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) begins critical repairs on Bluff Road.
Safety Concerns Prompt Immediate Construction
DOTD will close Bluff Road between Alligator Bayou Road and Serenity Lake Lane starting Monday, March 9. Crews will replace five deteriorating box culverts discovered during a recent road resurfacing project.
Officials say engineers found significant structural deterioration in the culverts. DOTD decided to move forward immediately due to safety concerns. Delaying the project could increase the risk of road failure or flooding.
Project Aims to Prevent Flooding
Construction crews will also raise the roadway by 21 inches. That change should reduce flooding in an area that sat underwater for weeks during major storms in 2016 and 2021.
DOTD leaders said completing the work now will reduce costs because contractors and equipment already remain on site.
Traffic Impacts and Timeline
The closure will affect school buses and daily commuters in the Dutchtown area. DOTD plans to monitor traffic signals along Highway 73, Highway 74, and C. Braud Road to improve traffic flow.
Officials expect the project to finish by May 4.