The Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) recently provided updates to two ongoing projects in Bienville Parish, the the LA 516 bridge over Poland Branch and the U.S. 371 overlay project.
The ongoing project to replace the LA 516 bridge over Poland Branch is nearing completion. Major construction work on the new bridge is finished, with the contractor currently working on pouring the approach slabs that allow the roadway to tie in to the new bridge structure. The roadway approaches will then be overlayed with asphalt, and permanent striping and signage will be installed on the project. DOTD anticipates being able to reopen the bridge to traffic in mid-November 2025, weather permitting.
The ongoing project to provide a patch, mill, and asphalt overlay on a 12-mile section of U.S. 371 from Red River Parish line to Webster Parish line is progressing as expected. DOTD anticipates the estimated completion of this project to be late 2025.