Nearly two years into construction, the replacement of Louisiana's historic Jimmie Davis Bridge over the Red River is progressing through a critical phase. Crews are wrapping up marine foundation work and preparing for superstructure installation on what will ultimately transform a notorious traffic bottleneck into a modern, four-lane river crossing serving Bossier and Caddo parishes.
The $361.7 million design-build project, which the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (Louisiana DOTD) awarded to Primoris Heavy-Civil (formerly James Construction Group) in April 2023, represents one of Louisiana's most significant infrastructure investments in the Shreveport-Bossier City region. Construction kicked off in May 2024, and the new bridge is slated to open to traffic in spring 2027, with the overall project including the linear park conversion expected to wrap up in late 2028.
"Construction on Louisiana DOTD's Jimmie Davis Bridge continues to move forward as our crews and partners focus on completing the final drilled shafts required to wrap up marine work in the Red River," said Dale Willis, Area Manager for Primoris' Heavy Civil business. "Foundation work on the approach spans is now in its final stages, with girder setting planned for later this spring. The overall project schedule remains intact."
Built in 1968, the existing Jimmie Davis Bridge has served as a critical link across the Red River for more than half a century. But with a two-lane bridge sandwiched between four-lane approaches on either side, the structure has become the textbook definition of a transportation bottleneck. Daily, 25,500 vehicles funnel through this narrow crossing, creating congestion, safety concerns, and delays for commuters traveling between Shreveport and Bossier City.
"This new bridge will serve as a major crossing over the Red River, and it will allow Louisiana to have its first linear bridge park by repurposing the historic, original bridge, which will benefit the local residents by providing more pedestrian-friendly infrastructure while keeping a piece of the region's history," said former Louisiana DOTD Secretary Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D., when the project was awarded.
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The project scope extends well beyond the river crossing itself. In addition to the new four-lane bridge being built just north of the existing structure, the roadway on each side will be widened and reconstructed to accommodate two lanes of traffic in each direction, including a raised median and three new median openings for U-turns. This configuration will improve traffic flow, ease congestion, and enhance safety along the LA 511 corridor.
Following the opening of the new bridge, the existing 1968 structure will be rehabilitated and transformed into a linear park.
"Once the new bridge opens, attention will turn to the conversion of the existing structure into a linear park and shared-use path," Willis said. "That phase will include a new concrete deck and fresh paint, extending the life of the historic bridge while giving it a new purpose for pedestrians and cyclists."
The park will connect into existing trail systems in Bossier and Caddo parishes, providing bicycle and pedestrian crossings over the Red River, as well as a trail extension to Hamel Memorial Park.
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One of the project's early accomplishments was the construction of a massive 2,500-foot-long temporary trestle bridge adjacent to the route of the new permanent bridge. Completed in early 2025, this temporary structure serves a critical purpose: providing a platform to move large equipment out onto the water for construction of the new bridge.
"Over the past year, the project has reached several important milestones, including the completion of the temporary crane trestle bridge in early 2025," Willis said. "That structure has proven essential, particularly in an environment defined by seasonal flooding and rapidly changing river conditions. The Red River can rise 10 to 20 feet almost overnight each spring, and the trestle has provided the reliable access needed to keep work progressing when conditions are at their most demanding."
The temporary trestle is engineered to support cranes and other heavy equipment needed during main bridge construction. Willis noted that this is the largest temporary trestle he has personally worked on, though the company has completed even larger ones on other projects.
Construction of the trestle employed an end-on construction process, with cranes positioned atop previously completed spans as they constructed the next section in sequence. Two 200-ton capacity Link-Belt 248HSL Crawler Cranes performed double duty, first driving 250 total piles spaced every 40 feet, then lifting and setting prefabricated bridge sections weighing 40,000 pounds each. With one crane starting on the east side in Bossier City and the other on the west side in Shreveport, the teams worked toward the center, each crane configured with 205 feet of main boom.
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Working over the Red River presents unique challenges that have required innovative solutions and careful coordination.
"The most significant construction challenge to date has been the installation of the drilled shafts, which require precision work in unpredictable over-water conditions," Willis explained. "These shafts are installed from barges using track-mounted drill rigs, and the work has demanded constant coordination among designers, contractors, and marine crews."
Rather than viewing these challenges as obstacles, the team has used them to drive innovation.
"Rather than slowing the project, the challenge has reinforced a collaborative, solutions-driven mindset across the team," Willis said. "Innovative methods have also been used, including [pre-formed] concrete tubs for the foundations of two marine piers, eliminating the need for cofferdams and reducing risk in fluctuating water levels."
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The project relies on a diverse equipment fleet that allows crews to adapt quickly as river conditions change. Liebherr LR 1300 and Link-Belt 248 Crawler Cranes work alongside specialized marine equipment to install the deep foundation elements that will support the bridge columns.
The performance of the temporary trestle has been particularly critical given the river's dramatic seasonal variations.
"Its performance has been a key factor in maintaining momentum across the site," Willis said, emphasizing how the structure has enabled continuous work even during challenging spring flooding conditions.
Despite the scale of construction activities, the project has maintained strong performance in both traffic management and safety.
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"Traffic management and safety have remained strong points throughout construction," Willis said. "A well-developed transportation management plan has allowed two lanes of traffic to remain open during peak hours, minimizing impacts to the traveling public."
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced in November 2024 that the project has progressed into Phase 2/2A of construction, involving continued widening and realignment of LA 511 (Jimmie Davis Highway/70th Street). A major traffic shift in late November 2024 closed the Clyde Fant Parkway southbound ramp to LA 511 westbound, with motorists rerouted through a temporarily installed traffic signal. This configuration is anticipated to remain in place until March 2026.
Throughout construction, access has been maintained to all residences and businesses, with Louisiana DOTD providing advance notice of traffic pattern modifications.
Safety protocols are particularly stringent for over-water operations.
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"Strict safety protocols are in place for over-water operations involving large cranes, barges, and marine equipment," Willis said.
The combination of marine work, heavy lifting operations, and fluctuating river conditions requires constant vigilance and coordination among all crew members.
The Jimmie Davis Bridge replacement was delivered through Louisiana's design-build procurement method, with Primoris Heavy-Civil selected as the best-value proposer. The company submitted a price bid of approximately $361.74 million with a proposed timeline of 1,768 calendar days.
The cost came in substantially higher than Louisiana DOTD had anticipated, reflecting increasing construction inflation, especially for structural pay items such as concrete and steel. Louisiana DOTD's professional staff determined the proposal included consideration for ongoing price escalation risk over the nearly five-year construction period.
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The project is being funded through allocations from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the American Rescue Plan Act, and state general obligation bonds. Designer Huval & Associates is working in partnership with Primoris Heavy-Civil on the design-build team.
For Primoris Heavy-Civil, the Jimmie Davis Bridge is more than just another infrastructure project.
"For Primoris, the Jimmie Davis Bridge represents a complex river crossing that highlights the importance of planning, collaboration, and execution in a highly dynamic environment," Willis said.
The project showcases the contractor's ability to navigate challenging over-water conditions, manage complex logistics, implement innovative construction methods, and maintain schedule performance despite environmental variables. The successful completion of the temporary trestle, the progress on drilled shaft installation, and the maintenance of the project schedule all demonstrate the team's capabilities on major river crossings.
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With foundation work nearing completion and girder setting planned for later this spring, the project is entering a new phase that will see the bridge superstructure take visible form above the Red River. The spring 2027 opening date remains on track, weather and other factors permitting.
Once complete, the project will not only eliminate a longstanding traffic bottleneck but also create new opportunities for recreation and connectivity across the Red River through Louisiana's first linear bridge park. The transformation will benefit both commuters who rely on the crossing daily and residents who will gain new access to pedestrian and bicycle facilities connecting the two parishes.
- Owner: Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- General Contractor: Primoris Heavy-Civil (formerly James Construction Group), St. Charles, Missouri
- Designer: Huval & Associates, Lafayette, Louisiana
