New Orleans - The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has announced that repairs on the Senator Ted Hickey Bridge are currently ongoing, with an anticipated completion date of the end of August still in place.

Currently, Lafayette-based C.E.C., Inc. (CEC) is repairing the bridge's column supports. The steel columns being repaired have been in place since the bridge opened in 1967. Deterioration was detected during a bridge inspection last year. Initially, DOTD bridge engineers could keep one lane of vehicular traffic open in each direction as designs were made for complete repairs; however, a subsequent inspection a few months later noted additional deterioration. Based on those findings, DOTD was required to close the bridge fully.

On May 5, 2024, CEC submitted a bid of $188,000, which was accepted the following week. The contract was formally signed on June 5. Due to the need for unique bridge parts that had to be fabricated off-site, the start of construction was delayed. CEC began work in late July as the fabricated parts started arriving.

DOTD expects the bridge's full repairs to be completed by August 30, weather permitting. Once the repairs are complete, the bridge will be fully operational, allowing for full vehicular traffic.

C.E.C., Inc. has a broad history of significant bridge construction and repair in Louisiana. Notable projects include rehabilitating the Sunshine Bridge in St. James Parish and repairing the Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge.