Bridges

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DATE: November 27, 2005 2:55:06 PM CST

Bridges

Critical Infrastructure

Bridges

Measurement Definitions
Recovery: Percent bridges open to navigation The recovery measure indicates the percentage of bridges in the storm affected area through which vessels can transit with the minimum overhead clearance shown on navigational charts. These bridges may be operating with some damage, including locked in the open or up position, missing lights and damaged fenders. Restored: Percent of bridges operating in pre-storm condition. The restoration measure indicates the percentage of bridges in the storm affected area that have been completely repaired and are operating at pre-storm levels.
Amplifying Information
There are 86 movable bridges and 51 fixed bridges within the affected area that cross commercial waterways. As bridges become operational or if they are locked open to allow navigation to pass through the bridge site, they are considered recovered. To move from the recovered status to the restored status, the bridge must be fully functional in pre-hurricane condition and completely repaired (structure, machinery, lights, fenders, and signage). Note: Due to Hurricane Rita, many of the movable bridges in the area were closed-to-navigation in preparation of the storm. Some of these bridges sustained water damage and wind damage due to the storm and some bridges are inaccessible to bridge operators due to water on highways and mandatory evacuations. Over the next several days, information will become available to determine the extent of damage to these bridges that were listed as restored or recovered from Hurricane Katrina.
Data Source(s)
State and Local Transportation Departments; Railroad Companies; Waterway Users; Local Coast Guard Resources; and the Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association.
Stakeholders
Port of New Orleans Port of St. Bernard Port of Plaquemines Port of South Louisiana Port of Baton Rouge Alabama State Docks Port of Morgan City Jackson County Port Authority New Orleans Steamship Association Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association Mississippi River Maritime Association American Waterway Operators Federal and State Pilots	Towing Companies Alabama Department of Transportation Mississippi Department of Transportation Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Federal Railroad Administration Local Bridge Owners Railroad Companies Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway Association Greater Lafourche Port Commission
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What kind of damage did bridges sustain? The types of damage to a bridge that may keep it from moving from the recovered status to the restored status include loss of shore power, damage to the equipment that operated the bridge, structural damage to the bridge or its related appurtenances, or damage to the roadway surface that prevents vehicle traffic from using the bridge. What is the Coast Guard’s involvement with bridges? The Coast Guard assumed responsibility for bridges in 1967 from the Army Corps of Engineers. The Coast Guard is responsible for approval of the location and plans of bridges constructed across navigable waters of the United States. The regulation of drawbridges to balance land and marine transportation needs is another responsibility of the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard also approves the location and plans of international bridges and the alteration of bridges found to be unreasonable obstructions to navigation. What is the impact of damaged bridges to the Maritime Transportation System? There are a few waterways closed as a result of bridges issues. The Barataria Waterway, Rigolets Pass, West Pearl River, and the Doullut Canal are currently impacted by bridge outages. Vessel traffic is limited on several other waterways due to bridges being unable to open. Restricted vertical clearances at bridge sites occur on the Algiers Alternate Route and Bayou Portage. Do any bridges need to be replaced as a result of damage from Hurricane Katrina? The U.S. 90 Bridge at Ocean Springs, MS and the U.S. 90 Bridge at St. Louis Bay, MS were both completely destroyed by the storm. The Mississippi Department of Transportation is currently designing fixed bridges to replace the destroyed moveable bridges. The I-10 Bridge across Lake Pontchartrain near Slidell, LA was severely damaged by the hurricane. Temporary repairs to the bridge have begun to provide two lanes of vehicular traffic by Oct. 30. One additional lane will be provided 75 days later. These repairs are temporary in nature. The I-10 Bridge across the West Pascagoula River in MS was damaged by the hurricane and should be returned to full service by Oct. 15. While these damaged highway bridges do not hinder the MTS directly, their condition severely limits vehicular traffic that could move goods from ports and people in and out of the impacted area. What goods have been prevented from delivery as a result of damaged bridges? Diesel fuel, gasoline, coal and chemical products deliveries were impacted. As bridges have come back in service, flow of these goods has improved.

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