H&H is performing bridge assessment, complete rehabilitative engineering design, and construction inspection services required for the rehabilitation and partial replacement of the Almonaster Avenue Bridge, a movable Strauss-heel trunnion bridge, for the Port of New Orleans.
The Almonaster Bridge crosses over the Industrial Canal and provides two vehicular lanes and a single railroad track crossing down the center of the span. Hurricane Katrina’s notorious wrath had destroyed roadways leading up to the bridge in 2005, and for the next 13 years, the bridge had only served rail traffic.
H&H’s 2019 assessment of the circa-1920 bascule bridge revealed that improvements to the electrical and mechanical systems, superstructure, and counterweight were required to return this bridge to its full operating capability. Although the existing substructure could remain, modifications were deemed necessary to accommodate the rehabilitated superstructure.
H&H is currently developing the necessary bridge remedial design plans and specifications and will provide inspection services during construction. The bridge’s span drive and span lock machinery, operating strut, guide assembly, live load bearings, and counterweight trunnion pin and bushing will be replaced. The main trunnion bearings will be rehabilitated and repositioned.
Additional remedial efforts along Almonaster Avenue also included improving or replacing the original fixed roadway approach spans. The sharp curve that existed on westbound Almonaster Avenue was demolished, and a new road was constructed on an improved alignment.
