DOTD announces weekend I-610 closure for the Wisner Bridge Overpass Replacement project
Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 10:50:04 AM
Contact: Bambi Hall
504-484-0210/bambi.hall@la.gov

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announces it will close portions of Interstate 610 from Friday, Sept. 16 at 10 p.m. until Monday, Sept. 19 at 5 a.m. for installation of steel girders as part of the Wisner Boulevard Bridge Overpass Replacement project.

Westbound I-610 from Franklin Avenue to I-10 will be closed in its entirety. Eastbound I-610 from the I-10 split to St. Bernard will be closed. Access from ground-level at Gentilly Boulevard and beyond will remain open.

Detours are as follows:

Eastbound

  • All traffic that would normally exit on I-610 for West End and Canal Boulevards should take I-10 east to the Metairie Road/City Park Avenue exit.
  • Traffic that would normally exit on I-610 at St. Bernard Avenue should take I-10 east to the N. Claiborne Avenue exit.
  • Traffic that would normally exit Elysian Fields Avenue or Franklin Avenue should take I-10 east to the Elysian Fields exit.
  • All through traffic should remain on I-10 east.
Westbound
  • All traffic that would normally exit on I-610 at Elysian Fields Avenue, N. Broad Street, or Paris Avenue should use the Chef Menteur Highway or Franklin Avenue exits.
  • Traffic that would normally exit on I-610 at Canal Boulevard should take I-10 west to the Florida Boulevard or West End exit.
Work completed includes removal of the old bridge, concrete pile driving, girders erected on the north side of structure, and approximately 60 percent of the new footings and columns are complete.


Upcoming work includes:
  • Pouring the remaining footings and columns
  • Erecting girders over I-610 and the south side
  • Pouring bridge deck and railings
The $19.5 million project is a joint effort between the Federal Highway Administration, the City of New Orleans and the Regional Planning Commission. Boh Bros. Construction Co., LLC is the contractor. The project required the demolition of the old concrete girder structure over I-610, built in 1955. It is being rebuilt in place with a new steel girder overpass, asphalt approaches, two 12-foot travel lanes in each direction and one 12-foot bike lane.

The bridge will remain closed through construction, which is estimated for completion in mid-2017.

All construction activity is weather dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. DOTD appreciates the motoring public’s patience and reminds drivers to please exercise caution when traveling through work zone areas and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment. Area residents should exercise caution when driving, walking or biking near the active work zone.

Motorists can access the latest updates on real-time traffic and road conditions using the 511 Traveler Information System by dialing 511 from their telephone and saying the route or region on which they are seeking information. Out-of-state travelers can call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511). Travelers can also access this information by visiting the 511 Traveler Information Web site at www.511la.org.

You can follow DOTD on Twitter for real-time, around-the-clock New Orleans traffic updates via @NOLA_Traffic. Additionally, motorists can utilize the "Way to Geaux" application to receive real-time, around the clock travel alerts. The hands-free, eyes-free smartphone application can be downloaded on any iPhone or Android device by visiting either the iTunes App Store, or Google Play.

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www.dotd.la.gov