Parish trying to replace Carr bridge

St. Tammany Parish has applied with the U.S. Coast Guard for a permit to replace the Carr Drive bridge that connects the street with U.S. Highway 11 just south of Slidell.

The Coast Guard is asking for public comment while deciding if it will grant the permit. The current bridge is a two-lane wooden structure that, according to the Coast Guard, needs to be replaced.

“It’s a pretty old bridge and in bad shape,” said David Frank with the Bridge Administration Branch of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The parish proposes to replace the old structure with a concrete bridge that will have an extra span and will be longer, wider and higher than the current bridge. According to the plans, besides the two lanes, there will also be shoulders on each side, which are not on the current structure.

Frank said the Coast Guard regulates any structure that crosses water and is used for transportation. Before the parish can start building the bridge, the Coast Guard must go over the plans and seek public comment before it can approve a permit to the parish.

All comments on the proposed bridge must be received by the Coast Guard by Dec. 26. All comments should be mailed to the Office of the Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, 500 Poydras St., Room 113, New Orleans, LA, 70130-3310.