Huey P. Long Bridge renovations is largest transportation program in La.'s history

The Huey P. Long Bridge is on its way to becoming more user friendly by 2010.Massman Construction Co., headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., won an $83.11-million bid for the first phase of the project. The Department of Transportation and Development, in charge of the project, detailed the first

phase as a two-year project retrofitting the West Bank land pier and all river piers affected by the expansion. The reworked piers will accommodate the new truss structure built in the bridge.The bridge widening, estimated to cost approximately $413 million, is one of 16 projects for the $4- billion Louisiana Transportation Infrastructure Model for Economic Development Program, the single largest transportation program in state history. The program is financed through a fuel tax. The DOTD will have to rework the estimates to accommodate construction and labor costs in post-Katrina Jefferson Parish. In the 1930s, the design team of Modjeski and Masters envisioned the Huey P. Long Bridge as an efficient way for Jefferson Parish residents and trains to move easily across the Mississippi River. Seventy years later, the bridge is a commuter's nightmare. State officials hope a new plan by the same design team will bring comfort to commuters and businesses; 50,000 cars cross the bridge every day leading to traffic jams and close quarters on the narrow lanes. It can make for a very interesting drive over the Mississippi River, said Dana Newsome, TIMED program communications director.The three-phase construction will expand the bridge's two existing 9-foot wide lanes and three 11-foot wide lanes with a 2-foot wide offset on the left and an 8-foot shoulder on the right. The project, a major parallel truss widening of a main river crossing, has never been attempted before in Louisiana and the project is one of a few of its type in the United States. During phase one, Massman will widen and strengthen the bridge substructure. Commuters won't experience any traffic delays because workers will be focusing solely on the underside.The second phase of the project will be where the most traffic problems come into play. Expected to start in the summer, the second phase includes expanding and building the lanes and building the support system. Bridge traffic could sometimes be reduced to one lane. Newsome said lane closures will be timed to avoid peak traffic hours.Since the amount of traffic flow will change, TIMED is also replacing the approaches to the bridge on both sides of the river. During phase three, the bridge approaches at Jefferson Highway and Bridge City Avenue will be reconfigured to include signalized intersections. This phase will delay traffic leading up to the bridge.Newsome said delays will be minor compared with the upside of the project. When we're finished, it will be well worth it, she said.Newsome said the focus of the project is the safety and comfort of commuters. But in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, planners say the project will also benefit evacuees.This project is going to be so instrumental. It's so important for evacuation, Newsome said.TIMED began selling bonds in 2002 to fund the project. After bidding is closed Dec. 14, TIMED will release a more precise construction cost. In all, the project will comprise 3.2 miles of construction including the bridge and its approaches.TIMED has an 80 percent residency requirement for all projects. For crews to work on the bridge, 80 percent must live in the state of Louisiana. We will employ craft employees from Louisiana and management from Louisiana and other states, said Massman Construction Vice President Keith Jacobson. Jacobson said they have previously worked on construction projects in Louisiana - the substructures on several Louisiana bridges crossing the Mississippi River. Jefferson Parish residents can stay up-to-date on the bridge project by visiting http://www.hueypbridge.com/ and calling (866) 846-3352.