LA DOTD signs, like this one posted just east of the intersection of LA 127 and LA 503, warn of the bridge closing and subsequent highway closure.

A Summerville bridge replacement will cause havoc for many LaSalle Parish residents for at least a month, as the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LA DOTD) will shut down one of the parish’s main transportation arteries.

According to a press release issued January 3 by the LA DOTD, the bridge labeled as the Bayou Funny Louis bridge on LA 503 approximately 1.2 miles east of the intersection of LA 127 and LA 503, is scheduled to be replaced starting Thursday, January 11.

This work will have LA 503 closed to thru traffic until February 9, the date it is scheduled to be completed and reopened.

The bridge is located between the parish roads of Dry Creek Road and Richard Road, meaning that everyone residing east of the bridge on LA 503 and its subsidiary roads, will have to detour around the bridge many miles.

The official detour calls for residents to take US 84 through Jena to LA 459 (Aimwell Road) and travel some ten miles to LA 3071, which cuts through to LA 503.

Residents could choose to take an unofficial route around the closed bridge, which includes gravel roads. On LA 127, across from the LaSalle Parish Landfill Road, is the parish road of Wilburn Road. If drivers elect, they make take Wilburn Road until it turns into Brasher Road, which intersects with LA 503 on the east side of the closed bridge.

Along with causing extra miles and time for residents living east of the bridge closure on LA 503, it will also be putting a strain on the LaSalle Parish School System’s transportation.

LPSB Transportation and Maintenance Supervisor Glen “Slick” Joiner said late last week that the closure is having them reroute bus drivers.

He noted the parish road detour route is not an option for them as the buses must stay on asphalt surfaces as much as possible due to their weight.

“We’re going out to actually drive the proposed route the first of next week to make sure the changes we have designed will work,” Joiner said last Friday. “Basically, we’ll have Bus #5 (operator Darrel Black) begin his route on the east side of the closed bridge and run his route starting there. Another bus will have to pick up/drop off students living west of the closed bridge.”

This could result in a change in student pick up/drop off times, but no more than 15 minutes in variation, according to the Supervisor.

“Darrel already has the longest route in the system and this will only increase his milage as he will have so many ‘dead-head’ miles to travel before he actually begins his route,” Joiner said. “But we’ll do what we have to do to make sure all of our students are picked up and dropped off on time and safely each school day.”

Signs detailing the road closure due to the bridge replacement were erected last week warning residents of the closure. They are located on each side of the bridge at the detour points.

Some residents have noted that the bridge at issue has had several problems over the years and the new bridge will be welcomed, despite the inconvenience of detours.