DENHAM SPRINGS, La. – After years of drawn-out construction on Juban Road, local drivers started noticing something strange a few months ago: the workers had vanished, but somehow, the cones, lane closures, and traffic delays remained.

Now the mystery has been solved. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development quietly replaced the real construction crew with 12 life-sized cardboard cutouts earlier this year in what officials are calling a “cost-saving visual strategy.”

“It’s honestly hard to tell the difference,” said local resident Tammy Arceneaux. “They stand around, never move, and somehow still manage to block traffic—just like the real ones.”

The LADOTD confirmed the use of the cutouts, calling it a “cost-effective solution to meet public expectations without actually doing anything.”

“Look, the cutouts work at the same pace as our usual crews, but at a fraction of the cost,” said an LADOTD spokesperson. “And unlike real workers, they don’t require breaks, benefits, or a working drainage plan.”

Locals say the cutouts have blended in seamlessly, often seen ‘working’ in the same spot for weeks without moving—just like before.

The department insists the cutouts are part of a “new era of visual progress,” adding that as long as the public sees orange vests and hard hats, there’s no need to rush actual completion.