BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) was honored by “South Central Construction” magazine with a Best of 2006 Judges’ Award in Construction for fast-tracking emergency repairs on the I-10 Twin Span Bridge following Hurricane Katrina.  

The I-10 Twin Span Bridge has long been a vital piece of Louisiana’s transportation infrastructure. After Katrina’s storm surge toppled the spans, DOTD worked quickly to re-open the bridge, which now plays a critical role in helping Louisiana recover and rebuild.

In the days following the storm, DOTD personnel worked around the clock to put together a bid package for the project. DOTD used a “fast-track” method to complete inspections on the damaged bridge; prepare bid documents for a three-phase repair project, including all necessary permits; and obtain three bids. The same day bids were opened, Sept. 9, 2005, DOTD accepted Boh. Bros. low bid of $30.9 million, a bid $20 million below the project’s estimated costs. Work began on an around-the-clock schedule Sept. 12, 2005, only two weeks after the storm.

Phase I of the emergency repairs consisted of repairing the eastbound span and opening it to two-way traffic. Damage to the eastbound span included 38 spans that were completely missing or submerged in Lake Pontchartrain and 172 spans that were out of alignment. Because of the around-the-clock schedule, Boh Bros. finished the job Oct. 13, 2005, more than two weeks ahead of schedule.

Phase II included establishing traffic on the westbound span by mid-January 2006. Damage to the westbound span was much worse and included 20 spans that were either missing or submerged in Lake Pontchartrain and 265 spans that were out of alignment. Crews rearranged the undamaged panels and filled in gaps using metal temporary bridge panels. Traffic was restored to the westbound span Jan. 6, eight days ahead of schedule.

Phase III involves a maintenance contract for the temporary panels being used on the westbound span.

 Voting for the Best of 2006 Awards was held Sept. 11 in Baton Rouge. Winners are chosen from 100 nominations in 16 construction categories and four design categories. Nominations are made from the construction and design industries at large. Nominees for the award are judged by five criteria: solutions to challenges, project management, construction innovation, client service and safety.

DOTD was officially recognized during a Dec. 7 awards luncheon held at Boudreaux’s in Baton Rouge.

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www.dotd.la.gov