Corps announces south bound Causeway lane shift

Published Nov. 28, 2011

NEW ORLEANS –The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, will begin transitioning southbound travel lanes at the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway into the second detour phase beginni ng on Dec. 2. The lane shift is necessary to accommodate ongoing construction of the Greater New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System.

As part of the transition and to minimize impacts, southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane from Dec. 3 – 4 (Saturday and Sunday). On Dec. 5 during peak hours, two southbound travel lanes will be open in the morning; however, there will be no turning access onto 6th Street. Following peak hours, all traffic will be shifted into the far left lane. Prior to the end of the day the southbound travel lanes will be shifted onto an overpass over the newly constructed 15 foot floodwall.

Northbound traffic lanes are scheduled to transition onto the overpass in January 2012.

Once complete, the newly constructed ramp wil l stretch from the Causeway peninsula to just north of 6th St. Tie-ins will link the new floodwall feature with the existing Jefferson Parish lakefront levees. The floodwall defends against a storm surge event that has a one percent chance of occurring in any given year, or a 100-year storm surge event. Construction on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is scheduled to be complete in Dec. 2012.

As construction of the Greater New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System continues, residents and commuters are urged to use caution near active construction sites. If at any time there are questions about construction of the system, call the Corps’ toll free Construction Hotline at 877-427-0345. For more information on the HSDRRS is available at: www.usace.army.mil.


Contact
Rene Poche
504-862-1767
rene.g.poche@usace.army.mil
or
After Hours:
504-756-2811

Release no. 11-009