Early warning: Downtown Abbeville bridge closing this Monday

It is often said “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.”
Drivers in Abbeville may find that is the case when the downtown bridge is closed beginning this Monday. Crews with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development will replace wire ropes during the closure, which is expected to last through Feb. 6.
“It will certainly be an inconvenience for the downtown businesses,” Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza said. “It will also cause issues for the church (St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church), as well as the people who live in the area.”
Piazza said his office has not received any calls from those complaining about the closure.
“Drivers are usually pretty accepting when the state has to do this type of maintenance,” he said.
That there are not many options is the way the situation should be viewed, according to the Mayor.
“They only do this type of closure when it is absolutely necessary,” Piazza said.
Abbeville Police Chief Tony Hardy said his department will be paying close attention to the closure.
“If there is any problem we are going to have our traffic guy go out there and assist,” Hardy said Tuesday afternoon. “We are going to wait and see if there is a problem and then assign him in the area to best fix the problem. I am sure there will be some issues.
“If nothing else, drivers probably should leave a little early because there will be some holdup.”
Hardy also asked that drivers be courteous to others and properly follow the detour route. The detour for the project is as follows:
• Traffic coming from the west on LA 14 will take LA 14 Bypass to LA 82 south to LA 14 (Abbeville Business District).
• Traffic coming from the east on LA 14 will take LA 82 north to LA 14 Bypass and head east to US 167 and head south to LA 14 (Abbeville Business District).
• Traffic on US 167 south can take LA 14 Bypass to LA 82 south to LA 14 (Abbeville Business District).
• Traffic on LA 335 north can head west to US 167 north to LA 14 Bypass and then head east to LA 82 south to LA 14 (Abbeville Business District).
• Traffic on LA 82 north can go to LA 14 Bypass and head west to US 167 south to LA 14 (Abbeville Business District).
• Traffic on LA 82 south can go to LA 14 Bypass and head west to US 167 south to LA 14 (Abbeville Business District).
“If it gets to the point that it is making people late for work,” Hardy, “I will have someone out there directing traffic.”