BATON ROUGE – Twenty-two movable bridges in the area affected by Hurricane Katrina sustained significant damage that will cost an estimated $10 million to repair, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development reported today.

Additionally, two of three tunnels in the area -- at Belle Chasse and Harvey -- also require repairs, DOTD officials said.

Teams of engineers from both DOTD and the Federal Highway Administration have completed both preliminary and field inspections in the Baton Rouge, Hammond and New Orleans areas.

Of the 86 movable bridges in the affected area, DOTD Secretary Johnny Bradberry said 22 had sustained significant damage; repairs have been completed to one, and the state has signed contracts to repair eight. Another two contracts are pending. The state also contracted to repair the two tunnels, Bradberry said.

The secretary noted that movable bridge access is among the department’s top priorities, following assistance to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in repairing the breaches in New Orleans and the need for quick action on the I-10 “twin-span” bridge repairs.

“These movable bridges affect not only vehicular traffic, but vital marine traffic as well,” said the secretary. “As the damage has been identified, the department has endeavored to get work started.”

Following is a list of the 17 state-owned bridges damaged in the storm, the contractor assigned and estimated repair time, if available:

1. Bayou Liberty bridge, La. 433, in St. Tammany Parish: total repair of pontoon bridge, Coastal Bridges, estimated six months.
2. Chef Menteur, U.S. 90, Orleans Parish: electrical/mechanical repairs, Boh Brothers, 60 days.
3. Rigolets, U.S. 90, Orleans Parish: electrical/mechanical repairs, Coastal Bridges, 30 days.
4. Bayou Barataria, La. 302, Jefferson: electrical/mechanical repairs, Boh Brothers, seven days.
5. Judge Perez, La. 23, Plaquemines Parish: electrical, mechanical and machinery house repairs, General Engineering and Construction.
6. North Draw, U.S. 11 over Lake Pontchartrain, Orleans Parish: electrical/mechanical repairs, Boh Brothers.
7. East Pearl River, U.S. 90, on the Mississippi-Louisiana border, St. Tammany Parish: electrical/mechanical repairs, CEC, estimated 30 days.
8. West Pearl River, U.S. 90, on the Mississippi-Louisiana border, St. Tammany Parish: electrical/mechanical repairs, CEC.
9. Madisonville, La. 22 over the Tchefuncte, St. Tammany: electrical/mechanical repairs, contract pending.
10. Bonfouca, La. 433, St. Tammany: electrical/mechanical repairs, contract pending.
11. West Larose, La. 1 over the Intracoastal Waterway, Lafourche: electrical/mechanical repairs, no contract. (Electrical work already has been performed by E.P. Breaux to make the bridge operational, but other major work remains to be done.)
12. Golden Meadow, La. 308, over Bayou Lafourche, Lafourche Parish:  roof repair, no contract.
13. Galliano, La. 308, over Bayou Lafourche, Lafource Parish; repairs completed.
14. Yscloskey, La. 46, St. Bernard: electrical/mechanical repairs, no contract.
15.  IHNC St. Claude, La. 46, Orleans Parish, no contract.
16. IHNC Danziger, U.S. 90, Orleans Parish, no contract.
17. IHNC Claiborne, La. 39, Orleans Parish, no contract.
    
    

The five locally owned movable bridges identified as having significant damage include:

·         One bridge in Plaquemines Parish: the Doullat bridge on La. 23.

·         One in Jefferson Parish: LaPalco Boulevard bridge.

·         Three in Orleans Parish: the Florida Avenue, Almanaster and Seabrook bridges, all over the Inner Harbor.

Vince Latino, DOTD engineer for fleet and movable bridge maintenance, said local entities already have requested that the state initiate contracts for repairs to the LaPalco and Doullat bridges. (Locally owned entities often contract for their own repairs, but may seek state assistance because of the federal funding involved.)

Meanwhile, a notice to proceed was issued Monday on repairs to the Belle Chasse and Harvey tunnels, both of which sustained electrical damage. A-1 Electric is the contractor for both projects. The only tunnel in the area that was not damaged was in Houma.

Louisiana has 152 movable bridges, more than any other state. Of the 86 movable bridges in the affected area, and 56 are state-owned.

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