Audubon Bridge Traffic Less Than Expected

ST. FRANCISVILLE, La. (AP) — One year after it opened, the $409 million John James Audubon Bridge has not attracted a large number of motorists eager to cross the Mississippi River between West Feliciana and Pointe Coupee parishes near St. Francisville.

The bridge opened on May 5, 2011, a month earlier than planned because the fast-rising Mississippi closed the St. Francisville-New Roads ferry.

In the past six months, Brendan J. Rush with the state Department of Transportation and Development, tells The Advocate the average daily traffic on the Audubon bridge was 2,887 vehicles. Two years ago, a spokesman for the consulting group managing the Audubon bridge construction said about 4,000 vehicles were expected to use the bridge daily after it opened, and that number was projected to hit 9,500 by 2026.