Contracted by LADOTD to repair the I-10 Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge, C.E.C., Inc. (C.E.C.) implemented a plan to retrofit false chord joints and associated expansion dams and to repair critical cracks and floor beams. The LADOTD determined that the structure’s main span had shortened due to rotation of one river pier. The false chords’ expansion devices moved out of alignment and over time experienced excessive deterioration.

C.E.C. began by retrofitting the false chords and associated expansion devices, and subsequent to this retrofitting process, C.E.C. used a scheme facilitating jacking of the suspended span into the bridge’s proper alignment. The jacking scheme allowed the bridge to be moved by four inches to the west while traffic continued to flow uninterrupted.

C.E.C. completed this project through the innovative use of scaffolding and work platforms that provided adequate working room, storage, a field office, and access to all work areas underneath the bridge. As a result, there was minimal traffic interruption during this project.

Numerous cracks to fracture critical members were identified during inspections. C.E.C. located the cracks with ultrasonic testing and repaired these cracks by drilling arrester holes. In order to perform these repairs, C.E.C. removed the existing paint with local containment. C.E.C. repainted areas where it had removed the existing coating. C.E.C. also provided necessary traffic control with its manpower and equipment.

C.E.C. worked diligently to complete the project with minimal interruption to the flow of traffic across this heavily traveled bridge. This project demonstrates C.E.C.’s ability to perform major repairs successfully to a heavily traveled Interstate system bridge while causing minimal disruption to traffic flow.