Piles are driven at bent locations, then topped with concrete bent caps.  The bent caps are then connected horizontally to the previous bent location by concrete girders.  Forms constructed atop the girders are used to pour the concrete bridge decks that will ultimately support the roadway.  The bridge decks are 135 feet long and weigh approximately two-million-pounds (1,000 tons). 

Bridge building is a repetitive process performed in a manner that sometimes resembles an assembly line.  Plans are to have the first span of the new bridge ready for traffic in mid-to-late 2009.

Television crew visits construction

A production crew from the popular Travel Channel program John Ratzenberger’s Made in America visited the Twin Span Bridge construction site recently.  The crew is producing a segment on the project that will air nationally in the spring of 2008.   

Ratzenberger, who gained fame in the critically acclaimed 1980s comedy show Cheers, hosts the show that travels the nation profiling the work of people who invent, produce and construct products and infrastructure that make America great. 

 “Featuring a large infrastructure project is a new thrust for the program,” said Ratzenberger.  “We picked the Twin Span Bridge project because of the important role it plays in the region’s recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.” 

 John Ratzenberger’s Made in America airs Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. central time on The Travel Channel.

Interactive graphics illustrate story

The New Orleans Times-Picayune recently published a feature story on the Twin Span Bridge destruction and replacement efforts.  The newspaper also developed some interactive graphics to illustrate the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the existing Twin Span Bridge and detail plans for the new structure.  The graphics are available here through the courtesy of nola.com. 

Bridge safety is top priority

Safety is the top priority of the Louisiana DOTD and its’ consultants as they inspect and maintain the current Twin Span Bridge.  The Twin Span is the most rigorously inspected bridge in Louisiana and one of the most inspected bridges in the nation.  A team of engineers and inspectors is working seven-days-a-week to maintain the bridge and ensure the safety of the more than 55 thousand drivers who use it each day. 

The prefabricated metal bridge components used to repair the westbound bridge can be damaged by speeding and/or overweight vehicles.  Drivers can do their part by obeying the lower posted speed limits and weight restrictions. 

Both spans are closed to oversize and overweight permit vehicles.  The westbound bridge has a 70 thousand pound weight limit for tractor-trailer combinations.  The single vehicle weight limit for the westbound span is 40 thousand pounds.  The speed limit on the westbound bridge is 45 MPH, while the eastbound bridge has a 60 MPH speed limit. 

The speed and weight limits are strictly enforced and State police are actively writing citations for drivers who exceed the speed limits. 

Use of bridge jacks

Some have inquired about the jacks used beneath the repaired Twin Span Bridge. These specially designed jacks are capable of supporting as much as 25 tons each. They are used in locations where the existing bearings sustained between 25-40 percent damage. The concrete bearings are still supporting much of the weight, with the jacks enhancing safety by providing a redundant
measure of support.

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Maintenance schedule available on-line

Maintaining traffic on the current Twin Span Bridge requires regular inspection and maintenance work.  Day and nighttime lane closures are scheduled each week for the bridge.  The latest maintenance schedule is available here.