Causeway approaches widening to three lanes

The clogged commute to and from the Causeway through Mandeville will see a multi-million dollar dose of relief by year’s end.

Causeway Commission officials on Tuesday approved a six-month, $5.09 million construction project to widen both south and northbound approach lanes from two lanes each to three each.

“As a Northshore resident this is a big project for people who commute every day,” said Klye France, secretary of the Greater New Orleans Expressway Commission. “Commuters are going to be very, very happy about this.”

Shelby P. LaSalle Jr., CEO of Metairie-based design firm Krebs, LaSalle, Lemieux Consultants Inc., the agency in charge of the project, estimated a roughly 30 percent increase in traffic flow.

Barriere Construction Co. LLC., was awarded the project for its $5.09 million bid, the lowest from five bidders.

In various forms, both directions to and from the bridge will be extended from two lanes three, ultimately extending as far north as Louisiana Highway 22. From a bird’s eye view, the improvements, once finished, will look like six lanes instead of four.

Construction is slated to begin in 60 to 90 days and last 180 days or roughly six months, according to project specifications.