New Orleans – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has secured Double Aught Construction to complete emergency repairs to the landing barge at the Lower Algiers/Chalmette ferry landing. The route remains out of service.

The work, estimated at $100,000, will require Double Aught to repair the screw jacks, the mechanism which adjusts and secures the vehicle ramp in position. The repair should take approximately two weeks to complete. Last week, the barge broke loose from the mooring and drifted out into the river, causing the vehicle ramp to fall behind the landing barge. Maintenance crews were able to temporarily secure the barge, but the damaged screw jacks required repair for service to safely resume.

DOTD will alert the public when final repairs are complete and service is ready to resume.

Travelers are encouraged to sign up to follow the latest status of the ferries on Twitter.com at Canal_Ferry and/or Chalmette_Ferry. Further information about the ferries can be found at www.dotd.la.gov/ferry/. For traffic information, dial 511 or visit www.511la.org. Out-of-state travelers can call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511).

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www.dotd.la.gov