The St. Tammany Parish Government in Louisiana recently received $10 million from the federal government to advance the $81 million replacement of the U.S. 11 Overpass in Slidell. Construction, which will take place around and over the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks, is slated to begin in 2031.
The bridge has been the site of numerous deadly crashes over the years, caused by its unsafe and outdated design. Replacement is necessary to ensure the bridge and its connecting roadways are brought up to modern standards and no longer pose a safety risk.
The project will prioritize both the bridge replacement and widening of US 11 between Interstate 12 and US 190. While design details for the bridge are still in development, officials anticipate that it will have wider lanes and shoulders to accommodate traffic. The roadway will likely be widened to four lanes.
Built in the 1930s, the bridge is located just south of I-12. The Louisiana Department of Transportation (DOTD) is overseeing the project and is in the process of conducting preliminary survey work.
The $10 million moves the project into the design phase, making credible progress toward realization. Officials have speculated that the project may play into a larger scope that may include widening U.S. throughout the area. The final design will be selected at a later date.
Photo by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay
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