Finally Some Good News On Bossier I-20 Reconstruction

Nearly two years ago, when the I-20 reconstruction project began in Bossier City, the DOTD warned that this would be a long process, but it's looking like we're finally seeing daylight at the end of the tunnel.

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In the latest update from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, we learn that several I-20 on and off-ramps at two interchanges that are currently closed are preparing to be reopened.

The good news is that, after a long closure, beginning this coming Monday night, April 28, the entrance and exit ramps at Old Minden Road (LA 72) to I-20 eastbound will be reopened.

However, that good news is slightly dampened with the announcement that the following night, Tuesday, April 29, the I-20 eastbound exit ramp at Barksdale Boulevard (US 71) will be closed.

DOTD does warn that this will be somewhat a lengthy closure which is expected to last approximately three months as crews take the ramp all the way to the roadway base and fully reconstruct it.

However, in that same update, DOTD hits us with another round of good news in the announcement that beginning on the night of Friday, May 2, the I-20 eastbound exit ramp to Industrial Drive (LA 782-2) will be reopened.

And we were excited to learn that the I-20 westbound entrance and exit ramps at Old Minden Road and Industrial Drive are also being prepped for reopening in the coming weeks.

According to DOTD, the project is running pretty close to schedule and is over three fourths complete:

The contractor is currently working on reconstructing the outside travel lanes on the interstate from near Hamilton Road to Industrial Drive, with traffic flowing on the newly re-built inside travel lanes.

The project is currently 77% complete, and is anticipated to wrap up construction in late 2025/early 2026, weather and other factors permitting.

As a reminder, commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) such as 18-wheelers are currently prohibited under Louisiana Revised Statute 32:327 from driving through the work zone (from Hamilton Road to Industrial Drive) due to narrow lane widths.

As construction progresses and the new travel lanes are built, this prohibition will be assessed for its necessity. CMV drivers must utilize the primary detour of I-220.