BROOKHAVEN — Lincoln County Engineer Ryan Holmes told the board of supervisors a due date for two bridge replacement project bids would be set for January 2025. His bridge update was the first item of a short report Monday morning. 

Holmes said bids to replace a bridge on Bethel and Lott Smith Roads would be due on January 7, 2025. Holmes said he could have set the date for Dec. 23 but did not feel comfortable opening a bid that close to Christmas. 

Bethel’s bids will be due at 10 a.m. followed by Lott Smith’s bids opening due at 11 a.m. The bridge on Bethel crosses Jordan Creek and the bridge on Lott Smith crosses the Bayou Pierre. 

“They are about $1.5 million a piece. We figured if we separated them by an hour we could get competition,” Holmes said. 

The bids will be opened in the supervisors boardroom at the Lincoln County Courthouse. 

Holmes said the final inspection for a bridge project on Opelousas is scheduled for Tuesday. It could be tentative with the rain in the forecast. 

Holmes said the job looked good and the grass had started growing up in the dirt work. 

A bridge on Auburn Drive is also finished and awaiting final inspection. Holmes said they have reached out to MDOT to set up the final inspection. 

“I would love for them to remove the signs but they are still responsible for it until final inspection. Grass is also coming up good,” Holmes said. “Hopefully the week after Thanksgiving we will get a date set.”

HVAC update

The start date for a HVAC upgrade project at the Lincoln County Courthouse is still a little up in the air. Holmes said they have not finalized a date yet but it will start sometime this winter. 

“All the equipment still hasn’t arrived. I’ve been pushing to get the material here. We had some 90 degree days last week,” Holmes said.