Wesley “Sunny” Waldrop lives next to the Carpenter’s Bridge and has to drive around it for approximately 26 miles to reach Kinder from his home. He said the bridge has been closed for almost a year now and believes things are moving slowly to reopen the bridge.
“It’s our only way to get across the Ouiska Chitto (also known as the Whiskey Chitto).”
It’s a state-owned bridge, and Waldrop says he’s been hearing about a grant, getting a contractor, etc. for some time. He said another nearby bridge took two years. He knows there’s not many people traveling the bridge everyday, but it is important to those who live in the area. He said residents wishing to go toward Kinder, either travel toward Oberlin or Reeves and then make the turn to head to Kinder. He said it’s about 20 miles to Oberlin from his house and 10 miles to Kinder. If you are headed toward his house and use a GPS, he said it will take you down Vizard Road. He said you best have a four-wheel drive.
“It’s not a good road. It’s terrible.” Waldrop said drive around.
Jacob Dillehay, AP Police Jury Engineer, said DOTD (Department of Transportation and Development) is responsible for the bridge. “It’s out of our hands,” he said.
Dillehay did get an update recently. Bids were opened in February, and Merrick LLC was the lowest bidder at $3,065,254.90. There were four other bids from Guinn Construction LLC for $5,498,178; Diamond B Construction Co. LLC for $6,659.670; Matt L. Guinn Construction LLC for $8,202,594.20; and JB James Construction LLC for $8,228,232.08. The bid includes tearing down the old bridge and replacing the structure.
He said he learned DOTD is awaiting paperwork from the Merrick company – proof of insurance – and then the next process will begin. After the contract is awarded and all paperwork turned in, Dillehay said an assembly period is awarded to the contractor to get all materials together – a process which can take 30 to 90 days. He doesn’t see the work beginning until mid to late summer.
The good thing about this particular project is that no money is coming from Allen Parish to replace this bridge.
On the state’s DOTD website, there are some other projects underway in the parish. The state will be grading, patching and overlay a section of U.S. 190 between LA 113 and Calcasieu River Bridge for $5,266,684.
Earlier this month, DOTD closed Reeds Bridge Road, west of Reeds Cemetery Road and east of South River Road. The closure is necessary for work crews to remove and replace Reeds Bridge over Calcasieu River Relief. Weather permitting, the closure is expected to last until the end of October 2023.
DOTD advises motorists to detour using the following routes: Reeds Bridge Road, US 165, LA 10, LA 3205 and South River Road.
