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Working with a familiar client on a familiar type of job doesn’t mean a project will be without its challenges, but it certainly helps. James Construction is finding this to be the case on the Amite River Bridge project for the Louisiana Department of Transportation (LADOT). “We’re used to this type of work – it’s the typical of type of job we’ve done for years,” Project Manager Matt Hicks says. “And we’ll continue to do in the future. We’ve worked with LADOT before – most of our jobs are owned by them.”

James Construction is working on the 1.2 mile-long bridge over the Amite River near Denham River Springs. The $29.5 million project includes the construction approaches that are about 3,200 feet in each direction. The company began construction on the project in September 2007, and it is expected to be completed in December 2010.

The bridge will include two continuous, 2,900-foot-long spans that are 40 feet wide. Each span will have two 12-foot lanes, a 10-foot outside shoulder and a 4-foot inside shoulder. “It entails the construction of two girder-span bridges, and the approaches tie into bridge approaches,” Hicks explains. “The bridge is made of concrete pile, concrete substructure caps and concrete decks, and the bridge approaches are asphalt paving.”

James Construction is building the new bridge just to the north of the existing bridge, which it demolished before beginning construction. “We did have to remove the existing westbound bridge in the fall,” Hicks says. “We actually blew the old bridge, and it fell, so that was kind of a big deal. We will have to do the same thing on the eastbound bridge. We’re used to demolition, as well, we’ve done that a lot in the past.”

Bridging the Gap

Like most bridge construction projects, a challenge on the Amite River Bridge project has been ensuring smooth traffic flow even during work periods. “We’ve had to have a lot of traffic control and measures to ensure the safety of the traveling public,” Hicks says. 

“We built the westbound roadway off to the side of where the existing road is. Once we got that built, we could put traffic on the new and tear out the old.”

Another challenge has been keeping the work site dry in the rising waters of storm- and hurricane-prone Louisiana. To minimize that challenge, James Construction took the high road and built a stabilized work road 27 feet above the river. 

“This has allowed us to gain unlimited access to all areas adjacent to the bridges, even during the wetter months when the river rises,” Hicks states. “It allows us to transport equipment throughout the job site on short notice, even if the river does rise.”

The road proved to be very successful when a major storm hit in August 2008. “When Hurricane Gustav hit, the waters of the river came up to a 36-foot elevation and completely covered the work road,” Hicks says. “But when they subsided, the road was still in tact and in good shape.”

James Construction also built a truss bridge over the river so pile-driving cranes can cross the Amite River when needed.

Driving Success

With offices in Florida, Texas and three Louisiana locations, James Construction is active in the Southeast. The company has worked with the departments of transportation in those states as well as Arkansas for the past several decades. “Today, our heavy civil workforce – over 1,500 strong – continues the company’s tradition of excellence in road, bridge, and airport construction and renovation,” the company says. “Our offices in Texas and north and south Louisiana have the state-of-the-art equipment and skilled manpower to expertly and safely perform large-scale projects that meet the exacting standards of our governmental clients.”