Watch as Caddo Bridge Pilings Are Blown Up

A new bridge is on the way, but the old bridge over Caddo Lake in the Mooringsport area is now gone.

Demolition crews blew it up on Wednesday. Actually, most of the bridge was dismantled and hauled off before the explosions. The explosions had to happen to get rid of the bridge pilings in the lake. It is worth noting that Erin Buchanan with DOTD says "the debris created from the detonation of the bridge footings will be dredged and removed from the water."

This bridge replacement has been on the fast track. DOTD expedited this project and hope to have the new bridge built in under two years.

This is an $18.2 million dollar project which began on October 1, 2021. It took some time for AEP SWEPCO to move their utilities that are located in the area.
Bridge inspection reports showed numerous problems with the old bridge. It was built in 1940 and the condition of the structure was rapidly deteriorating.

DOTD

The bridge was shut down at the end of last year to prepare for the removal and demolition of the old bridge.

DOTD hopes to have the new bridge compete by the summer of 2023, depending on weather conditions.

Motorists have been using LA 538 and LA 169 through the Town of Mooringsport to get around this detour.