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Broussard council approves budget amendment for North Saint Jean Street bridge replacement
Summary
The Broussard City Council approved a resolution Dec. 9 to amend the FY2026 operating budget for a timber replacement of the North Saint Jean Street bridge, citing an inspector27s recommendation, temporary access through a Sysco easement for four residences, and a staff estimate of $300,000.
The Broussard City Council on Dec. 9 voted to amend the FY2026 operating budget to pay for replacing the bridge on North Saint Jean Street, a structure the city said an inspector determined must be removed and replaced.
Why it matters: Council members were told the bridge is closed to heavy traffic and serves four residences; the city said temporary access will be arranged through an agreement with Sysco so residents can reach their homes during replacement. Staff estimated the project at $300,000, a figure the council cited when approving the budget amendment.
Presenters named by the presiding official (Walter Como and possibly Daniel Hutchinson) described the condition and scope. A city presenter summarized the problem: "The bridge needs to be replaced." Council members asked about traffic and load capacity; the presenter said a new timber-decked bridge will be used and "it won't have asphalt on it because it just adds weight and lowers your rating." The presenter also said the structure will be rated to carry local traffic, including commercial vehicles when appropriate.
Council discussion included alternatives and cost tradeoffs. A councilmember noted a temporary single-lane bridge would likely cost "in excess of $100,000," and the presenters said reusing precast panels from another site was not feasible because the existing span is skewed relative to the channel. The presenter described the temporary access arrangement: "We did an agreement with Sysco to allow the people that live on the other side of the bridge to pass through Sysco's facility" to avoid installing a temporary bridge.
The council moved, seconded, and approved the resolution to amend the operating budget for the bridge replacement by roll-call vote. The motion passed; the transcript records the approval without a recorded dissent.
Next steps: The resolution authorizes the city to move forward with the replacement project and associated temporary access arrangements; the council did not specify a construction start date in the meeting record.
