SLIDELL, LA — The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announces the latest update on the U.S. 11 Bridge closure between Slidell and New Orleans. Crews are currently working on structural repairs to the bridge deck, as well as painting on the north and south side of the moveable bridge.

The bridge is anticipated to be open for marine and vehicular traffic winter 2019 for one month, followed by another closure for approximately three months while crews install new mechanical and electrical systems. During this period, the bridge will be closed for marine traffic for one month during the three-month duration.

The department and the contractor modified the project schedule to allow crews to work on various repairs simultaneously, which led to an extended closure. With the original work schedule, the bridge would have had various closures throughout the entirety of the project.

Currently, the entire project is ahead of schedule and is open to marine traffic with a horizontal restriction of 70 feet. Construction is projected to be completed in the summer 2020.

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 work on the draw bridge.