Audubon Takes Flight

What a difference a river makes.

As the contractor continues to make significant progress in clearing the roadway alignment on both sides of the Mississippi River, it’s now easy for me to imagine what the drive will feel and look like when the project is complete in 2010.

One would imagine that on a 14-mile project, there would be little change in scenery and topography. While that notion may hold true for a majority of highway construction projects, that’s not the case for this project.

The West Feliciana side of the river offers many steep and rolling hills along the approximate 3.5 miles of alignment from U.S. 61 to the river. And for those of you who travel U.S. 61 and pass the project’s construction entrance, those hills are not visible. However, for those of you who reside or have visited St. Francisville, you know they are there. After all, that’s one of the area’s most acclaimed characteristics and attractions.

When I first visited the construction site several months ago with a fellow employee, the roughly cleared path to the river presented us remarkable hills and valleys that residents are not used to seeing in Louisiana. It was challenge for us but an adventure that I will never forget.

You may wonder why I say, “What a difference a river makes.”

Once you cross the ferry from West Feliciana to Pointe Coupee, everything changes! The topography transitions from hills and valleys to nearly flat. Lands used for extensive cattle grazing become rich and fertile soils ideal for sugarcane and cotton production. Where the river bluff provides flood protection to West Feliciana, an extensive levee system is utilized in Pointe Coupee.

Each of these differences can be explained and each relate to the land’s close relationship—since the beginning of time—to the Mississippi River. Where the great river has carved out a magnificent bluff on its east bank, it has laid thousands of acres of productive soil on the west bank.

This phenomenon is not unique to New Roads and St. Francisville or to the Mississippi River. It holds true for hundreds of towns and communities along all rivers. It is an interesting characteristic, however, that is often overlooked yet so important to our history and landscape.

I know many of you are interested in finding an answer to two really important questions (the million dollar questions).

Is a bridge between New Roads and St. Francisville really being built and, if so, what’s really happening on the construction site?

To put the answers simply, I can say with assurance…yes a bridge is being built and a lot is being done already on the site.

Like so many of you, I’ve heard for as long as I can remember that “the bridge” would be built. We all share stories of reminiscing about how easy travel would be with a bridge and how it would it open up many opportunities for Pointe Coupee and West Feliciana parishes.

When my grandparents moved to Louisiana from Missouri in the mid-1960s, they were told by locals that a new bridge between New Roads and St. Francisville would be erected soon. Forty years later, I’m proud to say—at this very second—it’s being constructed.

So what’s actually happening on the construction site?

If you live near the bridge site, you’ve seen firsthand the massive clearing of trees and brush that has taken place on both banks of the river. The entire road path from U.S. 61 at Starhill to the river in West Feliciana Parish is now clear. That’s an impressive four-mile path that was once a mixture of thick trees and very hilly pasture land! In Pointe Coupee Parish, clearing of the eight-mile road path continues in anticipation of a brand new roadway linking the bridge to LA 1 at New Roads.

The most significant work on the project right now is the construction of the east bank work trestle. I will be the first to admit that the concept of a trestle is hard to grasp. What is the trestle’s purpose, you may ask. The work trestles (there will be one on the east bank and one on the west bank) will provide the contractor unrestricted access to the cable-stayed bridge pier locations for construction. Think of the trestles as temporary “bridges” from the land out into the water. These temporary “bridges” will allow heavy equipment (cranes, concrete trucks, etc) and workers to move freely above the water, eliminating the need for constant boat transportation.

Once the east trestle is complete, the contractor will begin erecting the east pier of the cable-stayed bridge…an incredible first step in the construction of the John James Audubon Bridge.

Today we begin “Bryan’s Blog,” a sort of laid back conversation on developments and progress of the John James Audubon Bridge project. Only five months into construction, there’s a lot going on. There’s a lot to talk about.

As spokesman for the project, I hope that I can provide you information on the very latest developments on the construction site and offer answers to your questions, comments and concerns. I’m here to put the project in perspective—in layman’s terms—so that you may get a true grasp of what’s happening and when.

The Audubon Bridge project is huge for the people of Pointe Coupee and West Feliciana parishes—especially those who travel across the Mississippi River on a daily basis—but equally as true for all Louisianans. Many people from around the globe also have their eyes set on this project. It’s impressive to speak on the phone and respond to emails from people who have never been to Louisiana, let alone New Roads or St. Francisville.

This is a record-breaking project. When complete, the Audubon Bridge will be the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America. That’s something to be proud of!

I’m looking forward to visiting with each of you. Communicating via the Internet remains a relatively new experience for many of us. In the world of blogs, I’m no different.

So, while this is completely new to me and possibly new to you, it will be an interesting and rewarding journey. Bring your questions and conversation. I’m excited and ready.

Let’s begin.

Welcome to the "Audubon Takes Flight" blog.