SLIDELL, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) today announced the major road construction occurring on I-10 in Slidell will be complete this November, weather permitting.

“Work is being done 24 hours per day to get the project done as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said DOTD Secretary Johnny B. Bradberry. “More importantly, all three lanes will be opened up in the event of an evacuation.”

Barriere Construction Co. is the contractor for the 6.62-mile project, which begins at the north end of the Twin-Span Bridge and ends at the French Branch Bridge. The road work began at the end of May and will be done in four phases.

Phase 1 consisted of reconstructing the right (outside) shoulders on both the eastbound and westbound lanes. This phase is complete.  

Phase 2, which is currently under way, involves the left (inside) shoulders, the left lanes and about half of the center lanes. The lanes will be rubbilized (broken up) and overlaid with four inches of asphalt. Two lanes of traffic will be shifted to the right, with the right lanes partially on the new right shoulders. This phase should be finished by the middle of July.

Phase 3 involves the right lanes, the right half of the center lanes and the right shoulders. The concrete will be rubbilized and overlaid with four inches of asphalt. Two lanes of traffic will

be shifted to the left onto the newly paved roadway. Completion of this phase is expected in mid to late August.

The final phase will consist of the final two lifts of asphalt, at two inches each. At this point, traffic will be put back in its normal configuration, with the exception of one lane being closed during paving operations. All paving will be done at night.  

Two lanes of I-10 will be open at all times in order to impact traffic as little as possible.

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