BAYOU CHICOT, La. (KLFY) – DOTD crews are working on a five mile stretch of LA 106 in Evangeline Parish. The construction zone runs from LA 13 to U.S. Highway 167.

Crews are removing the old pavement, rebuilding the subgrade and road base, and laying down new asphalt.

“The roadway’s a little narrow and in fairly poor condition so we’re going to widen it, bring it up to standards,” said Bill Oliver, the DOTD District Administrator.

The DOTD is also adding a turn lane at LA 13 to accommodate traffic.

Robin Tatman lives along LA 106 in the heart of the construction zone. The work began in mid-August.

“Well it’s inconvenient getting out onto the road,” Tatman said. “It rains practically every day and it’s muddy and wet and slick but other than that I’m okay.”

Phyllis Rials works at Bayou One Stop in Bayou Chicot. She drives on LA 106 every day. 

“It had holes in it, it was bad. It was time they done it,” Rials said. “The foundation even was starting to fall on itself.”

Residents said this part of Evangeline Parish has had a lot of rain lately which has made conditions on the road even worse during construction.

The DOTD is trying to finish the project by December, but rainy conditions could move construction into 2019. Residents say they’re looking forward to the work being done.

“Hopefully when they get through it will be in much better shape,” said Tatman.

“You take the good with the bad right now,” Rials said. “Everybody’s fussing about their vehicles and all but it’s going to get better.”

The project costs $3.04 million.