Weather plays the villain in delaying U.S. 90 bridge work

Weather is the main reason why the estimated completion date on the E.J. “Lionel” Grizzaffi U.S. 90 bridge has been pushed back from the middle of this year until December, a Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development representative said last week.
“For each approaching hurricane storm last year, the contractor was required to remove all of the containment system needed to remove the old paint from the bridge,” DOTD Public Information Officer Deidra Druilhet said. “This took a lot of time and manpower.”
Seminole Equipment Inc. of Tarpon Springs, Florida, is doing the work, which began in September 2019 and involves cleaning, painting and bridge repairs. The contract for the work is approximately $12 million.
Druilhet said the project is about halfway finished, and the contractor has concluded blasting work. Now, the prime coat for one section of the bridge is being applied.
The closures affect the right eastbound and westbound lanes of the bridge as well as the bridge’s eastbound entrance ramp at La. 182 in Berwick and its westbound entrance ramp at Federal Avenue.
While the work is ongoing, motorists have been using the one lane of traffic open in each direction or the two-lane Long-Allen La. 182 bridge.
The work is part of a bridge preservation program and is being funded through the state’s transportation trust fund.
Once work on the U.S. 90 bridge is complete, work will begin on the nearby Long-Allen La. 182 bridge. That rehab project will be bid for construction in December.
“Work will include cleaning, painting, as well as structural repairs,” Druilhet said.
As the La. 182 bridge currently is serving as the alternate route across Berwick Bay during work on the U.S. 90 bridge, the U.S. 90 bridge will serve the same role while work is completed on the La. 182 crossing.