BELLE CHASS, La. (WVUE) – All four ramps leading to the new Belle Chasse Bridge will be removed due to structural concerns.
A routine inspection in August revealed that all four lamps were submerged. The slope on the north side of the bridge has been removed.
“If you get close and hit the bump, that's it. Again, it's expected and it's designed that way, but it happened more than we expected,” Belle Chasse said. said Abbe Ginn, a spokesperson for the bridge and tunnel replacement project.
Drivers are frustrated by the delays and eager for the $170 million project to be completed.
“A huge amount of money is being spent because they didn't do the right thing, and more money will be spent when it's over,” said Belle Chasse commuter Gary Millett. said.
said Belle Chasse resident Dana Wallace. Which lanes will be open? I messed up. ”
Ginn said the ramps will be replaced with lightweight materials to offset the weight on the soil.
“The soil is really, really soft,” Ginn said. “So we're trying to reduce the weight on it. The design elements of the bridge itself remain the same.”
Since May, ramp contractors have been fined $10,000 per day, totaling more than $1.6 million.
“This will not cost taxpayers or LA DOTD an extra penny,” Ginn said. “There will only be a fine if it is accessed, and the actual repair and replacement costs will be borne by the contractor.”
Wallace said: They should know that land sinks. ”
“It was a little bit of a relief to know that they were fixing it and that they caught the problem before it got worse,” Miluet said.
Gin insists that the bridge is safe.
“It will make commuting much smoother within Plaquemines Parish, both literally and figuratively,” Ginn said.
The bridge is scheduled to be fully opened by March 2025, nearly a year behind schedule. Once construction is complete, fee collection will begin.
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