New Orleans Public Belt to reopen Huey P. Long Bridge on Father's Day

The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Co. (NOPB) and Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development have scheduled a rededication and opening ceremony for the Huey P. Long Bridge on June 16 in New Orleans.

The Father's Day event will mark the completion of a seven-year, four-phased, $1.2 billion project during which the bridge was widened and upgraded. The project involved expanding the structure from two nine-foot lanes to three 11-foot lanes, creating new signalized intersections to replace a traffic circle and completing rail modifications.

The bridge was built in 1935 and is owned by NOPB.

The bridge widening is one of 16 projects included in the $4.6 billion Louisiana Transportation Infrastructure Model for Economic Development Program that's managed by Louisiana TIMED Managers, a joint venture of GEC Inc., Parsons Brinckerhoff Inc. and The LPA Group Inc. It is the single-largest transportation program in Louisiana's history.

The program is funded by a dedicated 4 cent-per-gallon gas and motor fuels tax. Projects include widening 536 miles of state highways, new construction or improvements to three major bridges and improvements to the Port of New Orleans and Louis Armstrong International Airport.