A re-dedication ceremony and public events took place yesterday to mark the completion of the project, which has expanded the bridge from two 2.74m travel lanes to three 3.35m lanes in each direction.
The Huey P Long Bridge was originally constructed in the 1930s as one of the first Mississippi River spans built in Louisiana. The cantilevered steel through truss bridge was originally designed by Ralph Modjeski, founding partner at Modjeski and Masters – the same engineering firm that created the design for the expansion project. The seven-year project was divided into four phases, including main bridge pier widening, rail modifications, main bridge truss widening and construction of new approaches.
“Modjeski and Masters has a long history with the Huey P Long Bridge and the completion of the widening project marks the beginning of a new era for the city of New Orleans and Huey P. Long Bridge travellers,” said Bruce Peterson, senior associate at Modjeski and Masters and project manager for the scheme. “The ability to expand the bridge versus replace it is a testament to the original bridge’s solid design – saving money for the state of Louisiana and taxpayers alike.”
The contractor for the main bridge widening was a joint venture of Massman Construction, Traylor Brothers and IHI. The approaches and ramps were built by Kiewit, Massman Construction and Traylor Brothers. The bridge is owned by the state of Louisiana and the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad.
