Hard Rock Construction, LLC is currently eight percent complete refurbishing the Magnolia Bridge, which crosses Bayou St. John near Cabrini High School. The bridge is closed to pedestrian traffic and will remain closed through the duration of construction. Residents are reminded not to recreate near the bridge during construction.
The bridge’s metal beams were recently sandblasted to remove existing paint and the decking has been removed. For the next two months, crews will be removing the structural steel on the bridge that requires replacement.
Some construction equipment that 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. 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 or swim beneath the structure.
The $1.3M project scope of work includes:
- Cleaning and painting the superstructure and decking;
- Sealing cracks in the sub-structure;
- Replacing decking, beams, and other structural components; and
- Stabilizing the bayou banks and restorative landscaping.
Details of the construction sequencing are available 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.