Contact:

            Talisha Dunn-Square                                                                         

Public Outreach Coordinator                                      

(225) 276-7042:  Baton Rouge Mobile                                                                       

(504) 452-7710:  New Orleans Mobile

BATON ROUGE –   The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has announced the award of the contract for Phase II of the Huey P. Long Widening Project over the Mississippi River in Jefferson Parish.

            Boh Bros. Construction Co., of New Orleans, LA, was awarded the contract for the railroad modifications with a bid of $12.1 million – the lowest of five bids.  The DOTD post-Katrina engineer’s estimate was $17.3 million.

            “Awarding the second contract for the Huey P. Long Bridge Widening Project shows DOTD’s continued commitment to the TIMED Program,” said DOTD Secretary Johnny B. Bradberry.  “The Huey P. Long Bridge Widening Project remains a priority for Louisiana, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.”

            The Huey P. Long Bridge Widening Project began with Phase I substructure construction in April 2006.  Phase II is scheduled to begin summer 2006 and will include railroad modifications of select railroad supports to facilitate new east bank and west bank bridge approaches.  Traffic impacts are not anticipated during the first two phases of the Huey P. Long Bridge Widening Project as the work is scheduled to be performed from the water or levee area. 

The two remaining phases will include traffic impacts during construction, starting summer 2007.  The main bridge widening (Phase III) is expected to be let late 2006 and the new approaches construction (Phase IV) is expected to be let mid 2007.  The entire project is scheduled to be complete by December 2011.

The completed project will include three 11-foot lanes in each direction, along with new inside and outside shoulders across the bridge. The project also will include construction of new roadway approaches that will provide signalized intersections at Bridge City Avenue and Jefferson Highway. The public can obtain more information about the Huey P. Long Bridge Widening Project by visiting the public outreach office at the Jefferson Business Center 1, 520 Elmwood Park Blvd., Suite 135 in Harahan. In addition to visiting the office, the public can get information by contacting the public outreach office at (504)731-4200, toll-free at (866) 846-3352 or by email at hueypbridgeinfo@latimedmgrs.com.

            The Huey P. Long Bridge Widening Project (www.hueypbridge.com) is one of three major bridge projects included in the TIMED Program (www.timedla.com) - the single largest transportation program in state history. The $4.6 billion program includes 16 specific transportation program that include four-laning 536 miles of state highways; widening and/or new construction on three major bridges; and improvements to both the Port of New Orleans and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

            The program is designed to enhance economic development in Louisiana through an investment in transportation projects and is funded by a dedicated $0.04 per gallon gasoline and motor fuels tax.  The program was created by Act 16 of the 1989 Louisiana Legislature and was approved by popular vote.

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