By Malcolm Butler
Pardon the progress.
For Ruston motorists, that progress will require a large serving of patience over the next few years when it comes to traffic around the construction of the new Cooktown Bridge.
Traffic delays have already become a daily reality lately for many drivers navigating one of the city’s busiest corridors. And with Louisiana Tech University and Lincoln Parish schools set to resume classes in August, Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker knows the congestion is about to become even more challenging.
The ongoing bridge replacement project, combined with multiple nearby road improvements, utility relocations and new commercial development, is creating what Walker describes as one of the most congested areas in the city.
“If there is any way I can avoid that area, I think I would do that because that’s going to be congested,” Walker said. “And it’s only going to get more challenging when school starts back.”
Walker said the inconvenience is unavoidable, but so is the need for the project. The existing Cooktown Bridge, built in 1961, has served as one of Ruston’s primary gateways for more than six decades and is being replaced with a modern structure designed to serve the city for generations to come.
The approximately $39 million state-funded project will not only replace the aging bridge, but also transform one of Ruston’s busiest transportation corridors with three roundabouts, improved traffic flow and safer intersections.
While traffic backups have become common throughout the summer, Walker believes the return of thousands of students to Louisiana Tech University and Lincoln Parish schools will create the biggest challenge motorists have faced since construction began.
The bridge project sits along one of the city’s busiest areas, serving Louisiana Tech, Ruston Junior High School, numerous businesses and thousands of commuters each day.
Walker said bridge construction is only part of what’s causing congestion.
Crews continue working on the bridge itself while recently shifting traffic to allow construction of the project’s roundabouts and surrounding roadway improvements.
“What they’re doing now with the way they moved the traffic over is so they can start working on the roundabout and all those areas around it,” Walker said. “They’re still working on the bridge, of course.”
Utility relocations have also become a visible part of the project as poles and other infrastructure are moved to accommodate the new roadway configuration.
Adding to the congestion are several other projects taking place in the same area.
New commercial development continues near the intersection. The City of Ruston is constructing improvements along the Interstate 20 frontage road designed to reduce traffic backups during student pickup and dismissal at Ruston Junior High School. At the same time, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is completing culvert work on the service road.
“It’s not just the bridge,” Walker said. “We also have new businesses going in right there on the corner. Then if you hit the frontage road going west, we’re working on the piece of the frontage road to alleviate the backup that Ruston Junior High causes. DOTD is also doing some culvert work between Trinity Methodist and Montessori School.”
Walker said construction on Cooktown Bridge continues to move forward as expected.
The contractor has a four-year contract extending into late 2029, although Walker believes the work could be completed sooner.
“It’s a four-year contract, so they have until 2029 to finish,” Walker said. “Based on what we’ve been told, we believe it’s going to be sooner than that. I still think it’ll be 2028 before it’s actually finished.”
As construction progresses, motorists can expect additional traffic shifts as crews move from one phase of the project to the next.
Some people have suggested assigning police officers to direct traffic once schools reopen.
Walker said the city has already discussed the issue with Ruston Police Chief Eric Watson but noted staffing limitations make assigning multiple officers to one location difficult.
“We’re already talking with Chief Watson about what we can do,” Walker said. “It’s really hard. If we have six officers on a shift and you have two or three of them there, it makes it tough.”
Walker noted officers have helped with school traffic in the area in previous years and said the city will continue looking for ways to ease congestion while working within DOTD’s traffic management plans.
“We’re doing everything we can to alleviate the issues,” Walker said. “But anytime you take a four-lane road and make it a two-lane road, there’s going to be problems.”
Walker knows the next couple of years will require patience from Ruston motorists. But he also believes the finished project will be worth the inconvenience.
The new Cooktown Bridge will replace infrastructure that has served Ruston since 1961 while improving one of the city’s busiest transportation corridors with safer intersections, improved traffic flow and infrastructure designed to accommodate future growth.
Until then, Walker urges motorists to stay alert, obey construction barricades and slow down through the work zone.
“I saw a lady the other night that was inside the barricades trying to get to Hobby Lobby,” Walker said. “People just need to pay attention. More importantly, they need to slow down.”
Bottom line is there may not be any good answer as construction on the bridge continues, but it’s a long past due necessity for Ruston.
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