U.S. 90 Bayou Ramos bridge repairs to continue

In the more than two years since girder cracks were discovered on the elevated section of U.S. 90 over Bayou Ramos, one phase of repairs has been completed and the second is scheduled to be bid in August.
Meanwhile, the bridge’s load limit remains reduced, requiring trucks weighing greater than 15 tons to be detoured through Amelia to guarantee that no further damage will occur to the structure.
DOTD District 3 spokeswoman Deidre Druilhet said in an email the $449,000 phase 1 work included “reconditioning the Bayou Ramos Bridge by wrapping the fractured girders with a carbon fiber wrap, which is an innovative material that adds additional strength to the bridge. Phase 2 will include wrapping the remaining fractured girders.”
The construction time frame for phase 2 is unknown, but is estimated to cost from $2.5 and $5 million, Druilhet said.
The department anticipates the weight restriction being removed once phase 2 is complete, she added.
“The bridge remains safe for vehicular traffic. Until repaired, DOTD is limiting the bridge structure to vehicular traffic and truck traffic that fall within the specified weight restriction of 15-25 tons,” Druilhet said in the email.
Prior to phase 1 repairs, state Department of Transportation and Development District 3 Engineer Administrator Bill Olivier said core samples from the damaged sections revealed no irregularities.
“We still are not sure of what the causes are,” Olivier said, adding that engineers may never know the reason unless the girders — located between the substructure where they hold up the decks cars drive on — are destroyed and studied.
Olivier called the cracks “unexpected” in a bridge of this age. It opened July 20, 1999, but this particular section was constructed in 1994. He noted that this problem is unique in the state, but may not be in the nation.
The temporary detour for trucks traveling westbound includes U.S. 90 to Lake Palourde Bypass Road (Exit 181) to La. 182 to U.S. 90. The temporary detour for trucks traveling eastbound consists of U.S. 90 to La. 182 (Morgan City exit) to Lake Palourde Bypass Road to U.S. 90.