I-10 repairs in Metairie

[UptownRoadGeek]

Ramp Relief

"Metairie-- Motorists accustomed to delays along Causeway Boulevard tasted their first relief Friday with the opening of the new I-10 on-ramp."

[froggie]

Got an E-mail news release about that the other day.  Looks like the ramp from NB Causeway to WB I-10.

[brownpelican]

Correct. The new elevated ramp from WB I-10 to North Causeway is next in line to be opened.

[UptownRoadGeek]

Correct. The new elevated ramp from WB I-10 to North Causeway is next in line to be opened.

How soon? I believe I remember hearing Nov-Dec.

[brownpelican]

That sounds about right.

[UptownRoadGeek]

Here we go again.....
------------------------------

Causeway Boulevard ramp closed after cracks are discovered

"Cracks in a support column beneath a flyover ramp connecting Causeway Boulevard to westbound lanes on Interstate 10 prompted the state Department of Transportation to close the ramp this afternoon, said John Guidry, a department district bridge engineer. The ramp, which allowed Causeway traffic south of I-10 onto the interstate near the Galleria in Metairie, had just opened in September after a three-month closure to remove an older ramp."

[UptownRoadGeek]

Causeway column cracks at Interstate 10 still a mystery

"State officials said this afternoon that finding the cause of troublesome cracks in an exit ramp support column in the Interstate 10 interchange upgrade at Causeway Boulevard is proving to be a vexing endeavor...

...cracks in a column and cap prompted the department last week to close the new ramp connecting northbound Causeway to westbound I-10 as a safety precaution...

...Crews removed a similarly cracked column and cap on Nov. 5 in a location where a ramp from southbound Causeway to eastbound I-10 has yet to be built atop the columns. Both damaged columns were built in 2006."

[codyg1985]

Hmm, wrong mix design? Too much freeze/thawing? If these piers were installed during the widening of I-10 between Causeway and I-610, then it may also bring the integrity of the mainline I-10 bridge piers into question along that stretch as well.

[UptownRoadGeek]

Hmm, wrong mix design? Too much freeze/thawing? If these piers were installed during the widening of I-10 between Causeway and I-610, then it may also bring the integrity of the mainline I-10 bridge piers into question along that stretch as well.

The mainline bridges had to be torn down and replaced early last year after they had just been built. That's why the Causeway to 17th Street Canal section was behind schedule opening. They tried keep it hush, but it was quite obvious that they were tearing down brand new overpasses. They actually tried to be quiet about these piers as well. I posted a picture of the first one a page or 2 back I think, but then the 2nd one cracked while supporting an open overpass and a third crumbled. They know what's going on . Boh Bros. admitted last year that a bad concrete mix had been used.

[codyg1985]

Question is why didn't they tear down those piers that were to be used for the Causeway interchange at the same time if they used the same batch of bad concrete for those piers as well?

[cjk374]

I used to do concrete testing about 10 years ago for a Louisiana construction company.  With all the testing that you're supposed to do, including joint tests that are done alongside state DOTD inspectors, how did they let it get this far? 

[brownpelican]

Anyone noticed this yet?

This past Saturday, I could have sworn I saw that exact pier torn down and they were in the process of rebuilding it.

[brownpelican]

The new ramp from I-10 West to Causeway North opened Monday afternoon.

http://www.wwltv.com/news/New-exit-ramp-at-I-10-and-Causeway-Blvd-helps-drivers-bypass-Veterans-112212899.html

[apjung]

Another new ramp is set to open tomorrow morning!
http://www.nola.com/traffic/index.ssf/2012/02/new_metairie_ramp_from_causewa.html

[lamsalfl]

Substandard ramp.  This is 2012 and they're building entrance ramps on the left side of the interstate.  Pretty embarrassing, but that's DOTD.   They got it right with Power Blvd.  It's also crappy with Williams Blvd.  Getting on the interstate in the fast lane, not to mention the bulk of that traffic will have to cross a bunch of lanes to get to the CBD.  shaking my head...

[DeaconG]

Substandard ramp.  This is 2012 and they're building entrance ramps on the left side of the interstate.  Pretty embarrassing, but that's DOTD.   They got it right with Power Blvd.  It's also crappy with Williams Blvd.  Getting on the interstate in the fast lane, not to mention the bulk of that traffic will have to cross a bunch of lanes to get to the CBD.  shaking my head...

Perhaps they should put a sign at the end of the ramp saying "WIDE OPEN THROTTLE REQUIRED"...

[apjung]

The new ramp is now open!
http://www.nola.com/traffic/index.ssf/2012/03/metairie_ramp_from_causeway_bo.html

[UptownRoadGeek]

Substandard ramp.  This is 2012 and they're building entrance ramps on the left side of the interstate.  Pretty embarrassing, but that's DOTD.   They got it right with Power Blvd.  It's also crappy with Williams Blvd.  Getting on the interstate in the fast lane, not to mention the bulk of that traffic will have to cross a bunch of lanes to get to the CBD.  shaking my head...

Two miles should be enough distance for traffic to move over 2 lanes. Realistically speaking, there's little room on the right side of the highway drop a flyover. A case could be made for the Williams ramp, but hey.

[apjung]

Substandard ramp.  This is 2012 and they're building entrance ramps on the left side of the interstate.  Pretty embarrassing, but that's DOTD.   They got it right with Power Blvd.  It's also crappy with Williams Blvd.  Getting on the interstate in the fast lane, not to mention the bulk of that traffic will have to cross a bunch of lanes to get to the CBD.  shaking my head...

Two miles should be enough distance for traffic to move over 2 lanes. Realistically speaking, there's little room on the right side of the highway drop a flyover. A case could be made for the Williams ramp, but hey.

I still can't believe that there are no plans to widen I-10 between Williams (223) and Veterans (225) so that the Williams left hand flyover entrance ramp would have a continuous lane and not have to merge to the right.

[UptownRoadGeek]

I still can't believe that there are no plans to widen I-10 between Williams (223) and Veterans (225) so that the Williams left hand flyover entrance ramp would have a continuous lane and not have to merge to the right.

If I'm not mistaken, that was the original idea.

I must say that the view on the new ramp as you make the second curve is nice, so is the view as you descend into center of a fake 10 lane canyon.

[lamsalfl]

There are plans to 10 lane to Loyola but no money.  It's part of the STIP.  I'd prefer to see at least SOME money spent on rail though.  It's been proven time and time again you can't build yourself out of congestion.

[pctech]

I agree about rail. It's time for BR-NOLA commuter train to implemented.

[apjung]

Is DOTD finally restriping Westbound I-10 at Causeway entrance ramp to 4 thru lanes? I saw the crews last night at where the 4 lane drops to 3.
http://www.nola.com/traffic/index.ssf/2014/03/two-day_i-10_westbound_lane_cl.html

[Tom958]

I have a question: On Causeway Blvd southbound approaching I-10, has any attempt been made to inform motorists who wish to exit I-10 at Bonnabel Blvd that it's impossible to do so from the new flyover and that they should use the service road or Veterans Blvd instead?

[NE2]

And, is the reconfigured SB to EB loop ramp accessible from Causeway Blvd?

No, only from the frontage road.