Joe Donahue, Secretary | Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
Joe Donahue, Secretary | Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
The Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has completed the permanent striping on the LA 20, Bayou Chevreuil Bridge. This bridge connects Lafourche and St. James parishes, serving as a crucial link between the Mississippi River industrial corridor and the Houma-Thibodaux area. The bridge features two 12-foot travel lanes and two 8-foot outside shoulders, making a total of 40 feet of roadway.
Originally bid at $11.6 million in 2020, the project faced delays when the initial contractor defaulted. JB James Construction assumed responsibility in early 2024, and the project is now substantially complete. DOTD Area Engineer Aaron Elisar stated, “While it took longer than expected, it is still a great day to see this milestone. This bridge is safer, it’s wider and will better handle the freight traffic that regularly crosses.”
"Today marks a significant step forward for our communities," remarked Rep. Ken Brass, highlighting the bridge's importance in enhancing safety and supporting economic growth. Sen. Ed Price expressed excitement about completing the first phase of the highway improvement project and thanked the DOTD and others involved: “I am extremely excited that we have completed the first phase of improving the La. 20 highway between St. James and Lafourche Parishes by completing the replacement of the Bayou Chevreuil Bridge.”
More than 9,000 motorists currently use the bridge daily, with numbers expected to rise to over 13,000 by 2039. The bridge replacement sets the stage for further safety improvements, including a widening project on LA 20.
Peter Dufrense, St. James Parish President, emphasized the focus on public safety, saying, “Our top priority is public safety, and this bridge replacement significantly improves the safety for all our St. James, Lafourche, and Terrebonne parish residents.” Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson, III, acknowledged the infrastructure improvement’s impact: “With this major infrastructure improvement to the Bayou Chevreuil Bridge, our residents and visitors of Lafourche Parish now have a safer way to travel in and out of the parish.”
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