The Iberia Parish Council approved five bridges in the parish for repairs as part of the federal Off-System Bridge Rehabilitation and Replacement Program for the years 2023-2025.

The bridges, which can now be rehabilitated with the almost $3 million in funding thanks to the program, includes the Monnot Road bridge near Delahoussaye Canal; Sidney LeBlanc Road over the coulee; the Coulee Road bridge at Peebles Coulee; the John Lewis Road bridge at Little Valley Bayou and the Eighty Arpent bridge at Delahoussaye Canal.

Parish President Larry Richard said the available funding comes after the failure to replace the Vida Bridge near Loreauville. The bridge had been put on the waiting list for years, but several problems kept the project from coming into fruition.

Councilwoman Lady Brown suggested the deletion of the Monnot Road bridge as a replacement project because the structure is traveled on very little.

“It’s not utilized very much, only a few people even inquire or use that bridge so I think the funds could be used elsewhere.”

Richard said the funding was only eligible to Class 4 bridges, which comprise very few parish bridges and there was currently no alternative if the council decided to scrap the Monnot Road bridge.

“We don’t have any additional bridges we could use for this,” Richard said. “This is not something that is going to be repaired quickly.”

In other business, the council unanimously approved subdividing property located at 1213 Lombard Street as well.

Planning Director Jacob Weaver said the property has a private road that recently changed hands to a developer who wants to sell the current homes to the people renting the houses.

“They want to continue it as a private road, the already constructed roads and homes meet our lot size requirements. We think it’s a good idea.”