Schools gamble for revenue share
August 16, 2011
Nancy Cherie McCollum
August 18, 2011
“The bridge is open,” Terrebonne Parish councilman Johnny Pizzolatto said at a recent council meeting to announce a return of the St. Charles Bridge just in time for the start of a new school year.
The St. Charles Bridge, crossing Bayou Terrebonne between Main Street and Park Avenue, is near Terrebonne High School and school district offices, and has been closed for replacement since November 2010.
Under jurisdiction of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, the two-lane bridge replacement project carried a price tag of $968,802 and had been scheduled for completion on June 13. The job was contracted to Coastal Bridge Co. LLC.
On the other side of Houma, along Bayou Terrebonne, the $26.7 million LDOTD two-lane lift span Prospect Bridge project has pier columns completed and crews are the process of connecting the north pier platform to the columns and the piers. On the constructed platforms machinery will be installed to raise and lower the main span.
Construction on the Prospect Bridge is also connecting Main Street and Park Avenue with La. Highway 3087.
Work began May 24, 2010 and is expected to be complete by Spring 2012.
This project also includes the widening of portions of La. Highway 24 to six lanes 300 feet east of the intersection with Prospect Street (La. Highway 3087) and 600 feet west of that intersection. Both Main Street and Prospect Street will be elevated approximately seven feet to provide level bridge approaches.
Widening of La. Highway 3087 will include five lanes approximately 400 feet south of the intersection and six lanes between the bridge and La. Highway 659.
According to LDOTD information, when open, the Prospect Bridge will carry more than 18,000 vehicles every day. James Construction Co. is contractor for this job.
The Prospect Bridge project can be followed on Facebook. Questions and comments regarding this project can be sent by email to customerservice@dotd.la.gov.
With the completion of nine months of construction the St. Charles Street Bridge between Park Avenue and Main Street was opened just in time for the academic year for nearby Terrebonne High School. MIKE NIXON
