Isn’t it remarkable how a bridge can tell so many stories? The St. Claude Avenue Bridge stands before us. It is more than just steel and concrete. It is a vital artery connecting neighborhoods and a silent witness to history.
The St. Claude Avenue Bridge is a bascule bridge. This means it has a section that can be raised. It allows ships to pass through the Industrial Canal. The Strauss Bascule Bridge Company designed it. Bethlehem Steel Bridge Corporation built it in 1919.
Originally, the St. Claude Avenue Bridge served both trains and cars. Two railroad tracks ran down the center. Automobile lanes were on either side. Today, the railroad is gone. Additional vehicular lanes have taken its place. Now one lane passes through the truss on each side. Another lane runs alongside the truss.
The Upper Ninth Ward sits on one side of the St. Claude Avenue Bridge. This includes neighborhoods like Bywater. The Lower Ninth Ward lies on the other side.
Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005. The levee failures caused widespread flooding. Many people sought refuge on top of the St. Claude Avenue Bridge. People from the flooded Lower Ninth Ward used it. They needed to reach higher ground near the river. For months, the bridge was the only direct route. It connected the Lower Ninth Ward to the rest of New Orleans.
Like any structure nearing its centennial, the St. Claude Avenue Bridge needed some work. Modjeski and Masters is a New Orleans bridge engineering firm. They have worked with the Port of New Orleans since the 1980s. They inspected every inch of the St. Claude Avenue Bridge. They paid close attention to the main joints. The team discovered advanced joint wear. Bushings were damaged. There were cracks in a counterweight link member. The bridge seating was irregular. Fixing the joints became a priority.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers planned maintenance on the Industrial Canal lock system. The Port of New Orleans used this opportunity. They decided to repair the St. Claude Avenue Bridge while the waterway was closed.
Without intervention, the St. Claude Avenue Bridge could have become inoperable. The original bronze bearing had worn away. Steel was rubbing against steel. The joint was deteriorating rapidly. One counterweight link member was bent. The bridge’s toe was moving. The bridge was not near catastrophic failure due to constant inspections. However, there was a chance the bascule bridge would become just a bridge.
The team had to build a support system for the counterweight. Modjeski and Masters started the permitting process early. They worked with geotechnical consultants. They explored multiple solutions. The project took place during hurricane season. It was essential the counterweight support did not harm the flood walls or levees.
COVID-19 swept through the world. New safety protocols were put in place. The team confirmed the problem joint was a major issue during disassembly. The extent of internal wear was excessive. The top half of one counterweight link member was bent. The solution was to replace the top half of the counterweight link members.
The St. Claude Avenue Bridge stands as a testament. It shows engineering, community, and resilience can overcome adversity. As you cross this bridge, remember its story. It is a story of survival. It is a story of connection. It is a story of New Orleans.