Client: LaDOTD - Louisiana, Statewide
Completion Date: 1999
Scope of Services
Environmental Study
Noise Study
Traffic Study
Final Plans, Specifications, and Estimate of Probable Construction Cost
Shop Drawing Review and Construction Support
GEC served the Louisiana state highway department as the sole engineering design firm for this very high profile project in Baton Rouge in the 1990’s. The project consisted of the preparation of construction plans for the widening and reconstruction of 4.5 miles of portions of the heavily traveled I-10 and I-12 corridors in Baton Rouge. Construction of the project was successfully completed in 1998 at a cost of $90 million. Its addition to the local transportation system has since proven to be very well conceived and an extremely valuable asset that continues to be the primary roadway artery for the City.
The I-10 reconstruction (the existing pavement was removed and replaced) and widening began at Acadian Thruway and extended to the I-10/I-12 split. The I-12 reconstruction and widening began at the split and extended to Airline Highway. Both interstates were widened by one lane in each direction with a 14-inch thick concrete pavement section. A total of 12 ramp connections along this corridor were designed and built.
Some of the primary challenges GEC faced in this project were related to the management of traffic during construction. Since the alignment of the existing highway was kept, detailed sequencing plans describing the phased construction had to be developed to maintain two lanes of free-flowing traffic throughout the 900-day construction period. This was a particular challenge at the project’s three bridge sites, one of which is above an at-grade arterial intersection and large drainage canal (Jefferson Highway at Drusilla Lane). Phased construction drawings were produced by GEC to provide both that capability and the required work areas for the construction.
Bridge design work included, first, the bridge on I-10 over College Drive. On the westbound side it was widened one lane utilizing steel girders and single column bents. Next, both of the bridges over Ward Creek on I-10 were widened by one lane utilizing steel girders and pile bents. Finally, the existing bridges on I-12 carrying traffic over Drusilla Lane, Jefferson Highway and the North Branch of Ward Creek were completely removed and new bridges were constructed. These bridges utilized long steel spans and pre-stressed concrete girder spans and column bents supported by concrete drilled shafts.
Other design work included:
New concrete median barriers on I-10 and I 12
Modifications of numerous drainage structures and regrading of side ditches to accommodate the wider roadway section
Modifications to the North Branch of Ward Creek to improve flow and to provide bank stabilization in the creek within the highway right-of-way
Noise barriers at selective points on the ground on I-10 and I-12, and on the North Side of the westbound bridge over College Drive and on the outside of both bridges over Ward Creek on I-10
In November 2000 this project received the Silver Award for Making a Difference / Breaking the Mold given by the National Partnership for Quality Highways.
