FERRIDAY — The traffic lights at the main intersection in Ferriday will temporarily be replaced with stop signs as part of a wider construction project.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation (LaDOTD) is having the intersection of U.S. 84 and Louisiana 425 in Ferriday widened to allow for a better turning radius for big trucks, which — under current conditions — are sometimes forced to swing into oncoming traffic lanes when they make turns onto or off of E.E. Wallace Boulevard.

The project also includes replacing traffic lights at the intersection.

LaDOTD Chase District Traffic Engineer Amy Giddens said the project will requre the contractor to take down the existing traffic signals at the intersection starting Monday.

“They are going to have to pull down the poles and do drainage work as part of the project, and once that is done will be set for the new signal,” Giddens said.

While the signals are down, the LaDOTD will temporarily install stop signs at the intersection.

The temporary stop signs should be in place for an approximately three-week period, Giddens said.

Ferriday Police Chief Derrick Freeman said the police department had not made enforcement plans for the temporary stop signs because the department was not aware of the plan.

The overall improvements to the intersection are expected to last 30-40 days. T.L. Construction LLC of Alexandria was awarded the $795,339 bid for the project last summer. While the project is ongoing, U.S. 84 west to Jonesville has been rerouted for large trucks and other traffic.

From Vidalia, the temporary rerouting includes turning from U.S. 84 onto Louisiana 131 until its intersection with Louisiana 15, and taking Louisiana 15 to its intersection with U.S. 84 on the western outskirts of Ferriday.