New Orleans, LA – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) wants to remind the public that service at the Lower Algiers/Chalmette ferry route remains suspended due to an emergency repair needed to the landing barge. As a result, DOTD has temporarily returned the Motor Vessel Louis B. Porterie – a large ferry servicing vehicles and pedestrians– to the Algiers Point/Canal Street route around 1:30 p.m., today.

The department is currently awaiting feedback from a vendor regarding the repair. It is considering multiple options, including having a vendor provide temporary rigging with hydraulic jacks to operate the ramp while the repair is performed. The timeframe for resuming service remains unknown.

Yesterday morning, 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 assessed were able to temporarily secure the barge, but damage to the screw jacks – the mechanism which adjusts and secures the vehicle ramp in position – must be repaired before service can 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