Completed in 1935, the Huey P. Long Bridge in New Orleans is being widened to provide a safer, more reliable Mississippi River crossing. A unique process is being used to complete the project, creating a triple-barrell truss bridge by lifting new truss panels onto the retrofitted structure. While this lift concept has been used in the past, one this large had never been attempted before.

In June 2010, a vertical-lateral move set two massive truss panels into place in the first of three lifts. This unconventional span-by-span erection method eliminates the need for falsework, avoided time-consuming secondary member fit-up and minimizing impact to traffic both on and below the bridge.

The widened bridge will give residents a more efficient hurricane evactuation route, ease congestion and encourage development on the river's west bank.

HNTB's innovative design and delivery methods on projects across the country are saving time, money and congestion headaches for clients, commuters and businesses alike.

For more information, please contact Sara Prem at sprem@hntb.com or 816-527-2258.

Additional Resources

• HNTB 3-D project animation
• Video documentary of first lift
• Designer project profile
• Engineering News-Record lift story
• ENR blog of second lift
• Modern Steel Construction project profile
• Bridge Design & Engineering guest column
• ENR coverage of third lift