Early construction work to build the foundation of the new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge is under way, laying the groundwork for the record-making $2.3 billion project — the largest of its kind in Louisiana history.
“The new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge represents the culmination of more than 40 years of planning and advocacy, transforming a long-recognized transportation challenge into Louisiana's largest transportation infrastructure investment,” Patricia Prebula, public information manager of Calcasieu Bridge Partners, told Construction Equipment Guide.
Calcasieu Bridge Partners photo
Since the April groundbreaking, recent activities by crews for design-builder Louisiana Bridge Builders include placing permanent bridge piles into templates, driving foundation piles, preparing work platforms and constructing temporary access roads that support ongoing operations, Prebula said.
“Survey teams continue to monitor and verify construction elevations to ensure each phase is built with precision, while crews also perform utility relocations and site preparation along the corridor.”
The project will replace the current I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge, formally named the Louisiana Memorial World War II Bridge and known locally as the Pistol Bridge for the crossed pistols embellishing the railings. It includes improvements from the I-210/I-10 interchange in Westlake to Ryan Street in Lake Charles, a stretch of about 5.5 mi.
The new bridge will be built just north of the existing river crossing and will feature three 12-ft. travel lanes in each direction, as well as one auxiliary lane in each direction to improve merging and traffic flow. There will also be full 12-ft. inside and outside shoulders for emergency access. The bridge profile will be reduced from about 152 ft. to 75 to 95 ft., “making it easier and safer for motorists,” Prebula said.
In addition, the new bridge will feature modern roadway lighting, reconstruction of interstate approaches, ramps, frontage roads and key interchanges, as well as improved pedestrian, bicycle and multimodal connectivity near the foot of the bridge. An elevated Sampson Street overpass will eliminate train-related delays.
Calcasieu Bridge Partners photo
The new bridge also will feature “an all-electronic tolling system with interoperability with toll systems in other states,” Prebula said. “Traffic will continue moving at highway speeds while overhead sensors and cameras detect vehicles and charge tolls automatically.”
The existing bridge opened in 1952 and was designed to carry about 37,000 vehicles a day.
“Today, it serves more than 90,000 vehicles daily,” Prebula said. “The bridge also predates the Interstate Highway System and lacks many modern features, including full shoulders, adequate lane widths, and a lower grade.
The Federal Highway Administration gave the bridge a rating of 6.6 out of 100 and classified it as “structurally deficient and functionally obsolete,” according to a 2017 report.
Calcasieu Bridge Partners photo
The new bridge is expected to improve safety, traffic capacity, hurricane evacuation, regional economic development and long-term reliability for one of the nation's busiest east-west freight corridors, Prebula said.
The project currently has approximately 300 employees with the number projected to rise to approximately 800 at peak construction. During the project's life cycle, the project is anticipated to create more than 16,000 jobs. It is funded through a public-private partnership or P3 with funding coming from federal, state and private sources along with toll revenue. Approximately $1.2B of the funding is from public funding (federal and state) and the remainder from a private developer – Calcasieu Bridge Partners.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development (LADOTD) is the owner of the project. Other partners include:
• GEC and HNTB serving as the Owner's Verification Representative and responsible for ensuring all the specifications in the contract are adhered to on behalf the LADOTD.
• Developer Calcasieu Bridge Partners, which consists of three companies: Acciona, Sacyr (Suh – Seer), and Plenary.
• Design-Build contractor Louisiana Bridge Builders, a joint venture between Acciona and Sacyr, which has the responsibility to oversee the design and construction of the project.
• Lead designer Calcasieu Design Partners, which consists of Huval, Jassan Spann Engineering, Arcadis, and Modjeski-Masters.
• The tolling operator is Kapsch.
• The Operations and Maintenance Contractor is Calcasieu Bridge Partners. They are currently and will be responsible for operating and maintaining the corridor for the life of this project.
Calcasieu Bridge Partners photo
Prebula described the new bridge as a “legacy”.
“I wanted to be part of a project that will be here for our next generations,” she said. “Other employees who are working on this project feel the same way. We are proud to be part of history being made.”
Completion of the new bridge is scheduled for 2031.
