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USA

Belle Chasse Bridge

Project description

The Belle Chasse Bridge in the southern outskirts of New Orleans crosses the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway close to where it branches off from the Mississippi River.

The existing structure, a movable bridge that requires to be opened a number of times every day to allow the passage of large shipping vessels, is to be replaced by a fixed structure, minimising disruption to both road and waterway traffic while also reducing long-term maintenance and repair work.

The new bridge is expected to open for traffic in spring of 2024.

mageba scope

The new four-lane bridge required expansion joints at both ends, and the responsible engineers accepted mageba’s proposal to satisfy the need by means of three-gap TENSA-MODULAR LR expansion joints.

In addition to these expansion joints, mageba was also contracted to supply the cover plates for the barriers and the sidewalk at each expansion joint location – parts of the bridge which must, of course, also accommodate the bridge’s movements.

The sliding plate expansion joints in the sidewalk area are required to accommodate both pedestrian and cycle traffic.

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TENSA-MODULAR LR joints with barrier and sidewalk cover plates for bicycle and pedestrian traffic

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Detail of a TENSA-MODULAR LR joint showing the sidewalk area for bicycle and pedestrian traffic

Key Data

Products:

TENSA-MODULAR LR expansion joints

Installation:

2023

City:

New Orleans, LA

Built:

2022–2024

Owner:

Louisiana Department of Transportation

Contractor:

Taylor-Massman, Joint Venture

Designer:

Louisiana Department of Transportation