Contact:  John Hall

Feb. 15, 2001

Corps will study feasibility of building tunnels for Industrial Canal crossings
Alleged bridge curfew violations also under review to address concerns of St. Bernard citizens, government

NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will study the engineering feasibility of constructing tunnels in place of the bridges at St. Claude and Claiborne Avenues as part of the Industrial Canal Lock replacement project.

"We are responding to the citizens and government of St. Bernard Parish, who have expressed their concerns about future traffic flows," said Col. Thomas Julich, district engineer, New Orleans District.

"We don't think the lock project will worsen the already congested traffic flow over the two New Orleans bridges, but the fact remains that the people of St. Bernard are concerned," Julich said.  

San Francisco-based URS Corp., an engineering firm under contract to the Corps for miscellaneous designs, will perform the feasibility study.  Costs, risks and construction impacts related to the proposed tunnels will be evaluated.

"We remain convinced that the proposed bridge crossings included in the current project design are the best overall solution when all stakeholders are considered.  However, since tunnels have not been considered in our present studies, we felt it was important to take a look," Julich said. 

The Corps stands by its analysis of project effects on vehicular traffic crossing the canal.  That analysis shows an immediate improvement once the project is complete because road traffic will be blocked for a shorter total time each day. 

Bridge curfews.  In a related development, recent complaints from the St. Bernard residents about violations of existing bridge curfews are under investigation by the Corps.  We are reviewing the records of the St. Claude bridge, operated by the Port of New Orleans, as well as the records at the existing lock to determine if the curfews are being strictly enforced.   Once the details are sorted out, the Corps will issue a news release. We are also coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard, which regulates the operation of drawbridges over the Industrial Canal.

Lock information: http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil, click Index and search for IHNC.