REPLACEMENT BRIDGE UPDATES
PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION FOR THE NEW BELLE CHASSE BRIDGE
UPCOMING BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY

SOUTH SIDE OF THE NEW BRIDGE

  • 1st Deck placement – Spans 20-21 – occurred 2/2423 – 2/25/23 .  Spans 17-19 Deck placed 3/3/23 -3/4/23 with Spans 15-16 deck placement scheduled for week of 5/1/23. Pile driving on South side Bents 22-25 started 4/26/23 with Bent 24. Pile driving continues for 4-6 weeks.
  • Span 15 through Span 21 girders set 7/12/22 through 8/19/22. Deck construction started week of 7/25/22 with shear key and diaphragm construction and continues with setting precast panels in Spans 15-21. Setting overhangs began after Labor Day.
  • Deck construction started week of 1/9/23. First deck pour (Spans 6-7) completed 3/30, Spans 8-9 completed 4/11 with Spans 10-11 deck pour to follow in May 2023. 

NORTH SIDE OF THE NEW BRIDGE

  • First deck pour (Spans 6-7) completed 3/30/23
  • Spans 8-9 completed 4/11/23 with Spans 10-11 deck pour to follow in May. 
  • Spans 8-9 to be placed the week of 4/10/23.
  • Spans 11-6 girders set 9/19/22 through 11/4/22 followed by precast panel installation. Diaphragm and shear key construction continues. Deck construction started week of 1/9/23.

WORK IN THE GIWW

  • 1st pair of structural steel girders erected 2/24/23  and last pair erected 4/19/23. Installation of diaphragms and final bolt up continues for the next 3 weeks.
  • Span 13 girders erected and erection continues into Span 12 starting 4/13/23.
  • Bridge closures to set structural steel girders scheduled for Span 12 in weeks of 4/17/23 and 4/24/23.
  • Structural steel girders scheduled for Span 12 in weeks of 4/10/23, 4/17/23 and 4/24/23.
  • Removing cofferdam sheets finished 11/22/22. Template was removed 11/28/22. Column construction started 11/28/22.  P2 Columns placed 12/7/22. P2 Cap placed 1/6/23. Placing P2 risers 1/26/23.

ALGIERS OUTFALL CANAL BRIDGE

  • Deck placements started week of 3/20/23 and continues. Barrier rail installation and crack repairs to follow deck placement.
  • Phase 1B pavement has begun and continues as LA 23 Spur Track is removed. Paving after Spur Track removal 4/4/23 – 4/7/23.
  • Traffic shift to Phase 1C occurred 4/13/2023. Excavation, subbase and base work is ongoing for Phase 1C east of LA 23. Wick drains for the North MSE walls were completed 4/25/23 and MSE wall installation follows.
  • Cap construction began 6/9/22 on the south side and has moved to the north side. Decks have been completed.  Approach work and barriers finished up in November.  Phase 1B shifted 1/19/23 through 1/20/23.

LA 23 ROADWAY & ENGINEERS ROAD

  • Phase 1C traffic shift occurred 4/13/23. 
  • Traffic shift for LA 23 southbound lanes completed 8/10/22. Phase 1A drainage construction is complete, and roadway work started the week of 10/10/22. Phase 1A paving started 1/11/23 and continues throughout the week.  Phase 1B traffic shifted 1/19/23 – 1/20/23. Phase 1B drainage and roadwork in the median started 1/20/23.

LA 23 ROADWAY SOUTH OF GIWW

  • Excavation and base work for detour road paving started 12/19/22.  Asphalt paving occurred 2/24/23 – 2/27/23 with the Phase 1D southbound traffic switch on the south side of the bridge occurring 3/1/23 – 3/2/23.
  • Northbound Phase 1D traffic switch occurred 3/15/23 – 3/16/23.
  • Excavation and construction of South MSE Walls started 3/20/23, North MSE Walls started 4/14/23 and continues. 
  • Upcoming traffic shift to Phase 1C will occur 4/13/23 to 4/14/23

LOCAL ROADS

  • Railroad Street reopened 2/8/23.
  • Railroad Street extension construction has completed curb & gutter and base installation. Asphalt paving started 1/11/23 and completed 1/18/23. Striping, signing and reopening the road to follow.

TUNNEL DECOMMISSIONING (CLOSING) COMING IN AUGUST 2023

  • Preliminary information signs for the public were installed 4/19/23.
  • Bike and Pedestrian Access through the Tunnel will close 5/20/23.

UTILITIES

  • Entergy south side temporary relocations started 2/28/23 along the east side on LA 23 and completed 4/25/23.
  • Entergy south side permanent relocations will continue from April to June 2023.
  • Entergy, AT&T, and Cox relocations continue along LA 23 and on local cross streets and adjacent streets throughout the project. Atmos completed relocations on north side and finished relocations on south side 9/26/22. Atmos completed south side relocations week of 9/26/22.  PPG water line relocation started 12/12/22 and continues from P Street to Dr Bowen Street and Barriere Rd.
CURRENT BRIDGE/TUNNEL OPERATIONS UPDATES

Construction Timeframes

SUMMER 2020 SUMMER 2020
2020-2024 2020-2024
Late 2023 Late 2023
SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024
SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024
SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024

SUMMER 2020

Design input on bridge and park

2020-2024

Lane closures, construction

Late 2023

Demolish tunnel

SPRING 2024

Open new bridge

SPRING 2024

Relocate Veterans Park

SPRING 2024

Take down old bridge