Failing Twin Span could be closed to trucks

Concerns about submerged highways and a weakened Twin Span disturb the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and its New Orleans regional administrator, Michael Stack.

The district, which covers all of metropolitan New Orleans, has been dealing with large-scale damage

The Twin Spans were the most impacted, said Stack. A lot of our bridges - the Chef Pass bridge - (were impacted).

The Twin Span's westbound span is weakening under constant traffic of heavy vehicles hauling hurricane debris and rebuilding materials, and DOTD officials may be forced to close the bridge to trucks.

Repairing thousands of sheared bolts, cracked panels and broken steel welds is costing the DOTD between $125,000 to $145,000 per month in maintenance, said Brian Buckel, DOTD construction chief.

The DOTD posted the westbound lane speed limit June 23 at 45 mph and dropped the weight limit for 18-wheelers to 70,000 pounds. Enforcement of weight regulations has been difficult without a weigh- in-motion system, which won't be in place until November at the earliest, said DOTD spokesman Mark Lambert.