NEW ORLEANS -- The James W. Hibben Memorial Bridge on the corner of General de Gaulle and Holiday Drive will be closed in both directions beginning Wednesday, February 18, 2026, to support vital construction work as part of the federally funded Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project (SELA) project.
The closure is necessary to safely install a temporary retaining structure that will allow continued progress on ongoing improvements. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) anticipates completing its portion of the work by April 19, 2026.
Motorists and residents are advised to plan alternate travel routes and allow extra time for commutes.
All traffic control devices and signage will be installed and maintained in accordance with the Louisiana Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (LaMUTCD), the LADOTD Work Zone Traffic Control Manual, and the City of New Orleans Department of Public Works. The lane closure will be monitored throughout the operation with (2) daily inspections to ensure the safety of the traveling public and construction personnel.
The Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project (SELA) reduces the risk of flood damages due to rainfall flooding in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Tammany parishes. The improvements generally support the parishes’ master drainage plans and provides flood risk reduction up to a level associated with a 10-year rainfall event. A 10-year rainfall event is a rainstorm that has a 10% annual probability of occurrence and equates to approximately nine inches of rain over a 24-hour period for our area.
For more information on the SELA project:
- Construction Hotline: (877) 427-0345
###
Release no. 26-005