ST. MARTIN PARISH, LA — The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announces the latest update for a rehabilitation project to replace the existing bridge deck surface on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge in St. Martin Parish from the Whiskey Bay exit to mile marker 125 and an update for the U.S. 11 Bridge closure between Slidell and New Orleans.

Roadwork for the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge Rehabilitation Project was suspended for the weekend of January 24 to January 27. The contractor resumed construction on January 31 where the right lane of I-10 westbound was closed from 9 p.m. on Friday to 6 a.m. on Monday.

This project, which consists of milling the existing deck surface and replacing it with a modified latex concrete pavement, is estimated to be completed February 3, weather permitting. Motorists are encouraged to use a detour route using LA 415 to U.S. 190 to I-49 back to I-10.

A portion of the bridge deck was damaged following a multi-vehicle crash involving a vehicle fire in August 2019 that caused spalling to occur, resulting in some of the surface concrete to crack and flake off. The bridge was deemed structurally sound after a thorough bridge inspection.

The contractor, American Bridge Co., continues work to reconstruct the two draw bridges on the U.S. 11 bridge span.

This $28.36-million project, which began August 2018, includes concrete and structural repairs, grid deck replacement, painting, installation of a new fender system and the rehabilitation of electrical and mechanical systems on the two draw bridges. This project is a major reconstruction of the two draw bridges in which the project contract time is three years.

When work on the draw bridges began in November 2018, the U.S. 11 bridge was closed to traffic, though was reopened during the Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year holidays. It was anticipated that the bridge would reopen for the 2019 Easter holiday and close soon thereafter to continue work on the draw bridges. Due to unforeseen problems with the rehabilitation of the structural supports, the bridge had to remain closed. Another anticipated short-term opening of the bridge in the winter months of 2019 was canceled as the work on one of the bridges during the current construction phase was not able to be completed as scheduled.

Although the remaining work will not allow the use of the bridge by vehicular traffic, construction is estimated to be substantially completed by summer 2020 to open for vehicle traffic. Currently, the entire project is ahead of schedule and is open to marine traffic with a horizontal restriction of 70 feet.

All construction activity is weather dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. DOTD appreciates the motoring public’s patience and reminds drivers to exercise caution when traveling through work zone areas and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment.

Motorists can access the latest updates on real-time traffic and road conditions using the 511 Traveler Information System by dialing 511 from their telephone and saying the route or region on which they are seeking information.