Dear Red River Parish Journal Editors,

I am writing as a resident of the Hall Summit area to bring attention to the prolonged closure of the LA 514 bridge replacement over Bayou Chicot in Red River Parish. This project has severely impacted our local community, and after more than 16 months of closure, residents deserve greater transparency and urgency.

Key Details:

• The bridge has been closed since March 17, 2025 — more than double the original eight-month estimate.

• Roadway tie-in work was completed approximately five weeks ago, with the only major remaining task being guardrail installation.

• The contractor, Apex Construction, is handling this as part of a larger contract for six bridges. While they remain within overall contract timelines (262 work days remaining), individual bridge projects like this one lack strong incentives for timely completion, leading to extended disruptions.

• DOTD has cited rain delays for the guardrail asphalt pads, but I’ve noted that heavy equipment has operated successfully in the area during the same periods.

This closure forces longer commutes, higher fuel costs, and daily inconvenience — hitting residents on fixed incomes especially hard. It affects not just one person but the entire community’s access and economy.

I have been in ongoing communication with:

• Erin Buchanan, DOTD Public Information Officer (Bossier City) – erin.buchanan@la.gov

• Michael Murphy, Project Engineer, BEAST Engineering mmurphy.beast@gmail.com, 318-746-2878

• David North, DOTD District 4 Engineer Administrator – david.north@la.gov

• Rep. Dennis Bamburg’s office – hse005@legis.la.gov

Recent updates from DOTD indicate the contractor has been instructed to prioritize this site, with hopes of reopening next week (as of late June) which has now come and gone once again. This contractor is trying to work on too many other bridges instead of finishing one bridge. This has been poor judgment and management by both the contractor, the PE, and DOTD for allowing this behavior. 

I urge the Journal to look into this story. Greater public awareness could help ensure the project is completed promptly. Stronger oversight, better contract structuring for multi-bridge projects, and accountability for contractors on critical infrastructure are needed to prevent this from happening to other communities.

Thank you for shining a light on local issues that matter to Red River Parish residents.

Signed,
A concerned local citizen 

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