When the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) decided to re-bid construction of the first phase of the LA 1 Improvement Project last summer, officials hoped that extending the construction timeline and separating the project's first phase into segments would help cut costs. The unknown variables were two monster storms known as Katrina and Rita which, in addition to their devastating impacts on communities across the Gulf Coast, contributed to a significant rise in regional construction costs

The lowest bids opened on December 21, 2005 for Segment 1B and on February 22, 2006 for Segment 1C of the project were $141 million and $20.2 million respectively, approximately 35 percent higher than expected. The low bidder for both segments was Traylor Brothers/Massman Construction Joint Venture, which was awarded the construction contracts for the new Leeville Overpass, ramps and related components.

Funding sources for these two segments of Phase 1 include earmarked federal transportation funds, federal formula funds, the state's first federal TIFIA loan, state transportation trust funds, coastal impact assistance funds, local funds and bond proceeds. Construction is expected to begin in April.

Following is a description of each segment of Phase 1 of the LA 1 Improvement Project:

Segment 1A: 6.2 miles of two-lane elevated roadway from south of Leeville to Fourchon. Bids for this segment of the project are expected to be re-advertised in late summer.

Segment 1B: 4.4 miles of approaches to and exit ramps from the new Leeville overpass on the northern and southern side of Leeville. Work on Phase 1B and 1C begins this spring and is expected to be completed by December 2009.

Segment 1C: Substructure and superstructure components of the Leeville Overpass at its crossing over Bayou Lafourche. The new overpass over Bayou Lafourche will have a 350-foot-wide crossing with vertical clearance of 73 feet. This will replace the old Leeville Bridge which has a 125-foot-wide opening.

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Press contact:
Henri Boulet, LA 1 Coalition
985.448.4485