LA 838 (New Natchitoches Road) bridge over Cheniere Creek in Ouachita Parish is closed for emergency repairs

If you use LA 838 south of Cheniere, you’ll need another way around for a couple of weeks. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development closed the LA 838 bridge over Cheniere Creek on Wednesday, Oct. 21, for emergency repairs, according to a DOTD notice posted at 1:08 p.m.

Where

The bridge is on LA 838, 3 miles west of LA 3249 (Well Road), south of Cheniere in Ouachita Parish. In a separate notice about the Steep Bayou bridge, DOTD calls LA 838 New Natchitoches Road.

What to expect

• DOTD says: “Total bridge closure at the specified location. All vehicles must utilize an alternate route.”
• Detour signs are in place, DOTD says.
• DOTD expects the closure to last about two weeks and says the bridge should reopen Friday, Nov. 6. The work depends on the weather.

DOTD’s notice doesn’t say what is wrong with the bridge. We’ll update this story when the bridge reopens or the date changes.

Another bridge is open again

The LA 557 bridge over Prairion Bayou near Luna, about 5 miles south of LA 34, has reopened, according to a DOTD update posted Oct. 21. It had been closed for repairs since Monday, Oct. 12, and DOTD had expected it to stay closed until Oct. 23.

More information

Call 511, visit 511la.org or use the Louisiana 511 app. Out of state, call 1-888-762-3511. DOTD’s public information office is at (318) 549-8402.