Construction crews are on site. The long-awaited repairs to Highway 167 are now underway. The $1.5 million project calls for resurfacing of the important transportation artery beginning in Abbeville at the intersection of Highway 167 and Old Highway 14 and continuing north for 3.6 miles. A special allocation of one-time surplus state funds from the 06-07 state budget year allowed state transportation officials to go ahead with the much-needed improvements.

  "I am very pleased to see this project moving forward. This is exactly the kind of project we should be funding with our surplus state revenues," District 26 State Senator Nick Gautreaux (D-Meaux) said. "Last year we in the legislature decided to focus available state dollars on infrastructure improvements like the Highway 167 project and I expect us to continue that focus this year."

  H & S Construction Company holds the contract for the project. Work is expected to be complete in early summer of this year. While motorists can expect some delays during the construction, state transportation officials say the work will take place during non-peak traffic hours.