By Howell Dennis

CITY EDITOR

CROWLEY – The Avenue H Bridge across Bayou Blanch which has been closed for the past few days will probably remain so for at least the next 30 days.

“The bridge did not pass inspection and has some structural problems,” said Crowley Mayor Greg Jones. “We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause our citizens we must put the safety of our citizens first.”

The State Department of Transportation and Development Off-System Bridge Replacement program conducted a routine inspection of the bridge in mid-July. As a result of the inspection, all five of the support pilings below the bridge’s middle span were found to be either significantly deteriorated or completely crushed.

A letter was issued by the Department of Transportation and Development to the Acadia Parish Police Jury which described the nature of the findings. The Police Jury, which is the body in charge of administrating bridge inspections, responded by closing the bridge’s traffic until the structural problems are repaired.

The City of Crowley is currently in the process of employing the services of a structural engineer to prepare the planning and specifications required to procure a contractor who can repair the damaged and failed pilings.

As previously mentioned, the entire process will take at least 30 days.