NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Several bridges in the New Orleans area are closed due to structural repairs needed.
“We take a lot of time and pride making sure these bridges are in safe conditions,” said Scott Boyle, the New Orleans area district engineer administrator for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.
DOTD has closed both the Seabrook Bridge in New Orleans and the Chalmette Ferry Bridge in St. Bernard Parish.
Traffic is currently being restricted on the Bayou Bienvenue Bridge, also in St. Bernard. According to the state, all bridges are inspected at least every two years and more, if necessary.
“We are typically looking for cracks. We are looking for a settlement, we are looking for any of kind damage. Section lost of the beams, the piles, or the peers,” said Boyle.
So, what caused the recent closures and restrictions?
Boyle says they had serious concerns about what was happening below the surface of the Seabrook Bridge.
“There were major safety issues and that bridge had to be taken out of service immediately. We are anticipating at this time the bridge will be reopened in late August, Early September,” said Boyle.
Currently, one southbound lane of the Bayou Bienvenue Bridge is closed, but that’s about to change.
“We are planning to rehabilitate that whole bridge, but we plan on keeping at least the northbound side open to facilitate traffic in and out of the parish,” said Boyle.
As far as the Chalmette Ferry Bridge is concerned, there’s no timeline for reopening. Boyle says that closure has nothing to do with a recent incident where a man drove his vehicle off of the ferry landing.
Regardless of what’s happening with the bridge closures in our area, local drivers say the collapse in Baltimore He thinks it’s better to be safe than sorry.
“It makes you think now when you go across a bridge right now. I know I do when I go across a bridge right now, I think about that,” said driver Shelton Abrams.
For updates on when the bridges will fully reopen, visit the DOTD website.
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