VIDALIA — Miss-Lou drivers traveling to and from Vidalia and Ferriday will be driving 10 mph slower for the next 60 days.

Contractors are preparing a 3-mile section of U.S. 84 and Louisiana 425 for a construction project, which includes surfacing removal, pavement patching and asphalt concrete overlaying.

The project will require lanes on one or both sides of the road to be closed during construction times.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has covered existing signs and posted lower speed limit signs for the duration of the construction work, as per standard procedure.

During that time, the speed limit is reduced from 55 mph to 45 mph.

DOTD Project Engineer Gary Panteria said the work contract allows for 60 working days, but that could also change depending on weather conditions and other factors.

“If the contractors get done early or there is no work being done for a while, we can put the old signs back up and increase the speed limit,” Panteria said. “It’s just a safety issue for the drivers and the workers.”

D & J Construction Company of Monroe, La., is handling the project, which is estimated at $1 million.

Construction work is slated to begin Monday.