I-10 Bridge Span Reopens in Louisiana

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he west span of the Interstate-10 bridge in New Orleans that was damaged by Hurricane Katrina reopen Friday, nine days ahead of schedule, the Associated Press reported.

The bridge moves four-lane traffic on an important east-west corridor in the region.

Repairs to the bridge — which was knocked out by Hurricane Katrina in late August — were accelerated due to a contract with incentive clauses that rewarded early completion and discouraged missing project deadlines, said Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta.

Mineta said the Federal Highway Administration, which is part of DOT, assisted Louisiana streamline the contracting process for the spans reconstruction, allowing work to begin as soon as possible after Katrina.

DOT had provided $25 million from FHWA’s emergency relief program as a downpayment to Louisiana for repairing I-10 and other federally supported highways and bridges damaged by Katrina.

Congress has approved the Bush administration’s request for additional emergency relief funds for Gulf Coast rebuilding, providing $2.75 billion for roads damaged by Katrina and other hurricanes last year, DOT said.