UPDATE: CONGRESS STREET BRIDGE OPEN BUT WITH RESTRICTIONS
LAFAYETTE, LA – After a thorough inspection of the bridge on West Congress St. between Bertrand Drive and Foreman Drive, an engineer with Lafayette engineering firm Huval and Associates has deemed the bridge safe to open but with vehicle weight restrictions. While repairs are needed, the inspector determined the bridge is safe for cars, pickup trucks, and school buses, but larger vehicles will be restricted.
Message boards, posted at Bertrand Dr. and Foreman Dr., will direct drivers of 15- to 25-ton vehicles to use an alternate route. The speed limit for all vehicles is decreased to 25 MPH on all four lanes.
Bridge restrictions follow a fire under the bridge, determined to be caused by a homeless man on Friday night, according to the Lafayette Fire Department.
ORIGINAL
PARTIAL BRIDGE CLOSURE ON CONGRESS STREET BETWEEN BERTRAND DRIVE AND FOREMAN DRIVE
LAFAYETTE, LA – The inside lanes of the bridge on West Congress Street between Bertrand Drive and Foreman Drive are closed until further notice. The outside lanes will remain open with a decreased speed limit of 25 miles per hour (MPH).
The closure follows a fire under the bridge on Friday night (September 30, 2023). The Lafayette Fire Department determined the fire was caused by a homeless man living under the bridge, causing significant damage. The extent of damage is being evaluated.
