Long Becomes Wider

One of the biggest bridge widening projects in the world is being carried out under an ambitious development program. The $1.2 billion dollar, seven-year project to widen the Huey P. Long Bridge in Louisiana is also the largest of 16 projects planned under the state’s Transportation Infrastructure Model for Economic Development (TIMED) Program at a total cost of $5.2 billion. The program is designed to enhance economic development in the state through an investment in transportation projects. The Huey P. Long road/rail bridge project started in April 2006 and is the first change to the structure since it opened in 1935. This bridge was the first Mississippi River span built in Louisiana and the 29th along the length of the river, and is just upriver from the city of New Orleans. The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad owns the bridge. The Public Belt maintains the railroad portion of the bridge and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LaDOTD) maintains the highway portion. Because of these features and functionality, it was determined that the bridge would be widened instead of replaced when upgrades were needed. When completed in 2013 the cantilever truss bridge will have been expanded from two 2.74m lanes to three 3.35m lanes with a 0.6m inside shoulder and a 2.44 m outside shoulder. It will also include new signalized intersections. The road section, which carries four highway lanes of US 90, is 2,462m long with steep grades on both sides. The rail portion (two railroad tracks), which has a viaduct stretching well into the city, lays claim to being the longest and highest steel railroad bridge in the United States.