3 bridges deemed unsafe for drivers set to undergo repairs in New Orleans area
There are 1,200 bridges in the New Orleans area, and they’re all inspected every two years at a minimum. Three bridges in the New Orleans area have been deemed unsafe for drivers due to substructure issues. The Senator Ted Hickey Bridge in Orleans Parish and the Bayou Bienvenue and Chalmette Ferry Bridge in St. Bernard Parish have been temporarily closed due to concerns below the surface. The Ted Hicic Bridge, also known as the Seabrook Bridge, will be replaced but is expected to open in September. The other bridge, which will be fully rehabilitated, will take about a year and a half to completely repair. The bridges' lifespan is typically 70-75 years, but termites pose a significant threat to termites.
Published : 4 weeks ago by Eleanor Tabone / WWL Louisiana in
There are 1,200 bridges in the New Orleans area, and they’re all inspected every two years at a minimum.
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NEW ORLEANS — There are countless bridges across Southeast Louisiana, and some of the state's major bridges are in the New Orleans area. However, some of them are now or will close because of safety concerns.
DOTD has closed three bridges in our area: the Senator Ted Hickey Bridge in Orleans Parish and the Bayou Bienvenue and Chalmette Ferry Bridge in St. Bernard Parish. All three have been deemed unsafe for drivers right now because of substructure issues, but they won't be closed forever.
The Ted Hickey Bridge, also known as the Seabrook Bridge, was closed, then reopened, and then closed again because of concerns below the surface.
Scott Boyle with DOTD said, "We are going to have to replace some structural elements."
He went on to say, "Upon a special inspection, it was deemed that bridge needed to be taken out of service in the interest of public safety."
Boyle says it’s not going to be completely replaced and is expected to open in September.
The Bayou Bienvenue bridge, 15 minutes away in St. Bernard Parish, will soon close. Boyle said, "We're in the process of designing an emergency project to get that bridge fully rehabilitated." It will take about a year and a half to completely repair this bridge.
"Once construction starts for that particular project, we're anticipating keeping both northbound lanes open to facilitate some flow in and out of St Bernard Parish," Boyle said.
At the end of Paris Road, is the Chalmette Ferry bridge, this bridge provides access up onto to the ferry, this bridge is also closed.
Boyle said, "That bridge was deemed to be not in a safe condition due to some substructure issues."
DOTD says depending on permitting it could be closed for a year, this bridge isn’t to be confused with the green bridge which is still open.
Boyle said, "Bridges have a lifespan of about 70-75 years, but they're sitting in water, they're subjected to heat, there are other elements, and for wooden bridges, there are termites."
Boyle says he understands drivers may be worried about driving over bridges after seeing what happened in Baltimore this week, but he says accidents like that are rare.