My Huey P.

Each year in April, National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) helps bring national attention to safety issues of workers and motorists around work zones. Since its conception in 1999, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in conjunction with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)and the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) have worked together to coordinate and sponsor this yearly event. Eleven-years later, transportation partners have joined the effort to support NWZAW. In addition to a national event conducted each year, many states host their own NWZAW events.

Each year a theme is chosen to help bring awareness to existing issues. This year’s theme is “Work Zones Need Your Undivided Attention" and it will kick-off on April 19 at Battery Park in New York City. This theme echoes the national efforts to end the dangerous practice of distracted or inattentive driving on our nation’s roadway.

So, what is distracted driving? Distracted driving is defined as a non-driving activity that has the potential for distraction from the task of driving thus increasing the risk of crashing. The three main types of distraction are:

• Visual — taking your eyes off the road
• Manual — taking your hands off the wheel
• Cognitive — taking your mind off what you’re doing

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver, and more than half a million were injured. Among the most common distracting activities are:

• Using a cell phone
• Eating and drinking
• Grooming
• Talking to passengers
• Reading, including maps
• Using PDA or navigation systems
• Watching a video

Work zones, by their nature, require more attention than a normal roadway system. When driving through an active work zone, remember that an attentive driver is a safe driver. Here are ways you can remain focused and keep others safe:

• Set your phone to mute
• If you need to talk or text, pull over to a safe location and park your vehicle
• If you call and reach someone who is driving, ask that they call you when it is safe to do so
• If you’re in a car with someone who is driving, ask them to put the distraction away until it is safe
• When driving, be sure to devote your time to the task at hand – this is not the time to multi-task.
• Be a defensive driver by anticipating dangerous situations caused by adverse conditions or incompetent drivers
• Help spread the word about distracted driving

On April 19, make it a point to make work zone safety a year-round goal by remembering that work zone safety protects not only the people who repair and build our roads but also those who drive on them.

Here a list of additional information to help keep the cause alive:

Download the 2010 NWZAW poster

GeauxOrange.com commemorates 2010 NWZAW

View a short video about National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week on You Tube

Distraction.gov – The official U.S. Government Website for distracted driving

National Safety Council - A non-profit, non-governmental public service organization dedicated to protect life and promote health in the United States.

Oprah’s No Text Campaign

As 2009 drew to a fast close, we can take the time to reflect on what was accomplished and what the new year has in store.

2009 Major Milestones

24/7/60 Lane Closure (January 2009). In January 2009 the outside barrier of the 75 year old bridge was removed and replaced thus reducing traffic to one lane. This closure began on the eastbound side and lasted 30 days before moving to the westbound side. The one lane restriction was completed at the end on March 26 — five days ahead of schedule.

Substructure work completed (May 2009). Phase I—strengthening of the piers— was completed at the end of May. For this phase, four land piers and one land pier were strengthened by reinforcing them with structural steel and filling the void sections of the piers with concrete. Also, w-shaped metal struts were anchored to the top sections of the piers to support the existing truss and the additional truss sections.

Huey P. gets social (September 2009). In September, the Huey P. Long Bridge Widening Project joined Facebook and Twitter. Since joining these popular sites, a good number of followers have joined its Fan Page and Group Page. Twitter has emerged as an additional informational tool for lane closures and traffic impacts. With 526 followers between both outlets, drivers are able to stay up-to-date.  

Steel installation began on West Bank Anchor Span (November 2009). Early in November the placement of the first two bottom chord members kicked off the steel installation of the West Bank Anchor Span.  The installation of this 538-member span is estimated to be completed by May 2010.

Westbank roadway work took shape (December 2009). The intersection of LA 18 and US 90 began its second phase of construction. Traffic has been directed to the newly paved sections of LA 18 while construction continues. Once completed, traffic will shift to the newly repaved section until the future westbound US 90 roadway tie-in is ready. Also, work on the widening of Bridge City Avenue has progressed as paving on the left side of the westbound section began.  

2010 Upcoming Construction

East Bank substructure work begins. Pile driving began in preparation for the footings that will support the substructure work– columns, trumpets and caps– as the approaches on the East Bank takes shape. The formation of the columns is estimated to begin in late January.

West Bank approaches to be completed. The eastbound roadway surface of the bridge, also known as the deck, is estimated to be completed at the end of March. Once done, deck construction will move to the westbound side and will be finished by the end of the year.

Jefferson Highway overpass demolition. The work originally slated to occur last year has been rescheduled for the 2^nd quarter of 2010. With the overpass gone, traffic will be forced to run at ground level and u-turns located on Jefferson Highway and Clearview will be utilized to aid traffic flow at this intersection.

West Bank Anchor Span steel installation ends. The completion of this span is scheduled to be completed by May. To date, more than 30 members have been installed on the upstream side. Installation on the downstream side will begin in January.

Span-by-span steel installation begins. Concurrently while stick-building the West Bank Anchor Span continues, preparation for span-by-span steel installation has started. At this time the barges are being prepared, the lifting towers are being assembled and the installation of the stability frames has begun. The span-by-span construction is scheduled for May and will entail a preassembled truss section to be transported on barges to an area under the bridge and hoisted it into position using strand jacks. 

I have always thought of concrete simply as construction material, but the first on-ramp deck pour in May changed my perception. Through the fist paving, I learned a little about the complex process and behavior of concrete.