The Louisiana Department of Transportation announces plans to repair the Interstate 10 eastbound overpass at I-49 in Lafayette after a truck driving under the overpass caused extensive damage to three of the eight grinders on the eastbound bridge. DOTD spokesperson Deidra Druilhet says the repairs will come in two phases, with the first phase taking place a week from Friday
“We’re going to be able to lift a completely damaged piece, then our crews will come in and they are going to take those existing concrete barriers and they’re going to shift them so that we can open up two lanes of traffic on I-10,” said Druilhet.
Currently, one lane of I-10 eastbound is open at Evangeline Thruway. The first phase of work is expected to be completed between January 20th and 22nd.
“We’re going to probably start at night where we’re going to probably end up having a full closure of I-49 northbound. We will still be able to keep that one lane open on I-10 eastbound as well as traffic flowing on I-10 westbound, it’s going to happen over a weekend period of time,” said Druilhet.
Phase two of the project includes the removal of necessary bridge components and installing newly constructed grinders and bridge deck.
During the work, full closure of I-10 eastbound and I-49 northbound will be required. More details will be announced prior to the closure.
After all of the pieces are secured and in place, a concrete closure pour will be performed to tie in all new components to the existing bridge overpass. Druilhet says phase two will not be completed until after Mardi Gras.
“Being that we’re looking at doing this first phase, the extraction portion not this weekend but the weekend after next, and you factor in another several months were probably looking into the springtime before we have everything all finished up,” said Druilhet.
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