VIDA SHAW BRIDGE CHRONOLOGY March 29: Teche Area residents form “Save Vida Bridge.” April 20: State Rep. Troy Hebert, D-Jeanerette, announces that DOTD will postpone for 30 days accepting bids for the replacement of Vida Shaw bridge. May 2: Iberia Parish Council holds public hearing on replacement project. May 21: Town Hall meeting held in Loreauville to discuss future of bridge. May 30: DOTD again postpones letting bids for the replacement of the bridge. June 11: Supporters of the save-the-bridge effort hold a candlelight vigil at the structure. June 13: The Iberia Parish Council votes 10-3 to move forward with the replacement program. June 27: CEC Inc., submits low bid of $4.2 million. July 1: Loreauville officials offer to place bridge at park, then later withdraw offer. July 9: Bridge left open to boat traffic due to problems closing it. July 29: Federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation issues directive again delaying replacement of bridge. Sept. 23: Bridge listed on “Ten Most Endangered Historic Sites of Louisiana” by state Trust for Historic Preservation. Oct. 1: Announcement made that the National Register of Historic Places has declared the bridge eligible for inclusion in its listing. |