UPDATE: CONGRESS STREET BRIDGE OPEN BUT WITH RESTRICTIONS 

Lafayette, LA – After a thorough inspection of the bridge on West Congress St. between Bertrand Drive and Foreman Drive, an engineer with Lafayette engineering firm Huval and Associates has deemed the bridge safe to open but with vehicle weight restrictions. While repairs are needed, the inspector determined the bridge is safe for cars, pickup trucks, and school buses, but larger vehicles will be restricted. 

Message boards, posted at Bertrand Dr. and Foreman Dr., will direct drivers of 15- to 25-ton vehicles to use an alternate route. The speed limit for all vehicles is decreased to 25 MPH on all four lanes. 

Bridge restrictions follow a fire under the bridge, determined to be caused by a homeless man on Friday night, according to the Lafayette Fire Department.