When Foster Campbell addressed the South Bossier lunch group Wednesday, he told attendees that a replacement for the Jimmie Davis Bridge would begin construction next year.

Apparently Campbell got his information wrong.

District 5 Public Service Commissioner Campbell — who has no dealings or authority over bridges and transportation in the state — said that he had spoken to David North, District 4 engineer administrator for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

Foster Campbell

“David told me that the Jimmie Davis Bridge is scheduled to start being built in 2020,” Campbell said. “It’s going to be two bridges, one coming and one going. And the new bridge will have places for bicycles and for [pedestrians].”

BossierNow asked Erin Buchanan, the DOTD public information officer for District 4, to confirm Campbell’s information.

Will the new Jimmie Davis bridge construction begin next year?

“No, David North told Bill Robertson (Foster’s assistant) that the project currently has $23 million in state funding allocated to it,” Buchanan told BossierNow. “We may be able to use that money as a state match to draw down federal funding for the capacity project. This project would include construction of a new two-lane bridge just north of the existing structure. It would also include rehabilitation of the existing bridge so ultimately the Jimmie Davis Bridge will become four lanes.”

But construction on the new bridge project won’t begin in 2020, Buchanan added.

“The procurement process can take at least a year, so depending on how the project develops and full funding is secured, we likely wouldn’t see any construction until at least two years from now.,” she said.