Bridge Will Remain Unnamed, City Council Decides
May 08, 2018 11:03AM ● By Savannah LudwigThe Breaux Bridge City Council decided that the area’s iconic bridge will remain unnamed after suggestions were made to rename the bridge in honor of a late councilman.
The city council decided at an April 10 meeting against naming the bridge in honor of longtime councilman Gary “Bimmie” Champagne, who passed away in March. Champagne was instrumental in the support and upkeep of the bridge.
Instead of renaming the bridge, the council will honor Champagne with a plaque near the bridge
Original Story:
Officials Seek to Honor Late Councilman in Bridge Refurbishments
Breaux Bridge city officials are looking to honor late councilman Gary “Bimmie” Champagne, who died in early March following heart surgery.
The bridge is up for a $1.2 million set of refurbishments in the 2018-2019 budget. Champagne’s campaign urged city officials to move the project up on the city’s list of priorities, and convinced a grassroots campaign to raise thousands of dollars for the bridge before the city overtook the project.
City officials have proposed that the city’s downtown bridge, for which Champagne urged city officials to save, be named the Gary “Bimmie” Champagne Memorial Bridge.
Champagne served on the council for 11 years and was not seeking re-election at his time of death.
