The word on the bridge: Late this year

Glenn Ledet, secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development, speaks from the Long-Allen Bridge. Ledet and other state officials were in Morgan City on Monday to talk about plans for reopening the La. 182 bridge, which has been closed since 2023 for an extensive rehabilitation project that turned out to be more extensive than first thought. The latest word is that, weather permitting, the bridge will reopen "later this year." Officials, including Ledet and project manager Mark Aucoin, said that as the work progressed beyond stripping and painting, workers discovered that more structural steel would have to be replaced than was anticipated, leading to delays. Ledet characterized the work as a $40 million investment in the Morgan City area. Shown with Ledet are, from left, state Sen. Robert Allain, Berwick Police Chief JP Henry, state Rep. Vincent St. Blanc and Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna.

The Review/Bill Decker