LUFKIN, TX Work is scheduled to begin in Nacogdoches County that will replace the LaNana Creek Bridge on FM 1878/Starr Avenue.

Drewery Construction, Nacogdoches, Texas, will serve as contractor for the $1.7 million project that is scheduled to be completed in early 2018, weather permitting. Crews will set barricades, signage and detours beginning Monday that will detour traffic to Austin Street/FM 2609 in order to travel from North Street to University Drive.

FM 1878/Starr Avenue will be closed to through traffic between BU 59 and FM 1275 in order to remove the existing bridge and construct the new bridge in its place. The entrance to adjacent Pecan Park will not be closed to visitors during the project, but the existing walking trail beneath the LaNana Creek Bridge will be detoured during the construction. Walkers/joggers will be detoured on the trail around Wilson Drive and the detour will be delineated for easy identification.

This construction project consists of the replacement of the LaNana Creek Bridge with a new 160-foot bridge that will have four 11-foot lanes, 5-foot shoulders and 5-foot sidewalks on both sides of the bridge in order to accommodate foot and bike traffic as well as motor vehicles. Included will be the placement of about 200-foot of new pavement at each end of the new bridge, that will be constructed of a hot mix asphalt treatment.

"We are excited about beginning this new construction project in Nacogdoches that is located so close to Stephen F. Austin State University," said Rhonda Oaks, Public Information Officer with the Lufkin District. "We waited to begin until after the semester ended in order to reduce the amount of traffic congestion in the area. This project, once completed, will benefit not only college traffic, but Nacogdoches travelers and those who enjoy the park and walking trail beneath the bridge."