Hard Rock Construction, LLC is currently 5 percent complete refurbishing the Magnolia Bridge, which crosses Bayou St. John near Cabrini High School. The bridge will remain closed to pedestrian traffic through the duration of construction.
Crews have removed the wooden deck and are currently removing the steel deck grating. Damaged steel members and beams are also scheduled to be removed this month.
When construction crews reach the sandblasting milestone of the project, a large containment tent will be placed around the bridge. The tent will prevent dust and other construction debris from entering Bayou St. John. Residents and their pets are reminded not to recreate near the bridge during construction as accidentally hitting the tent or its tethers could compromise its stability.
Some construction equipment is necessary to rehabilitate the bridge will be staged on the banks of the bayou for portions of the construction duration. This equipment is required for safe implementation of the project. Additionally, installing stabilizing piles and restoring the bayou landscaping is included in the project scope. When the grass on the bayou is damaged, it will be restored at the conclusion of the project.
Please be mindful of safety fencing, signs and barricades, and do not attempt to access the bridge.
The $1.3 million project scope of work includes:
- Cleaning and painting the superstructure and decking;
- Sealing cracks in the sub-structure; and
- Replacing decking, beams, and other structural components.
Details of the construction sequencing and timeline were first made available at the pre-construction public meeting. View a copy of the public meeting presentation and details about construction sequencing here. To be added to the project contact list, please e-mail RoadWork@nola.gov.
The Magnolia Bridge was one of the first bridges to provide access over Bayou St. John and is often used for weddings and other special events. The project is cost-shared with the Regional Planning Commission and the Department of Transportation and Development using Federal funds.