As a result of growing concerns about structurally deficient bridges, Louisiana has become more exacting with its safety standards and structural requirements for both state- and parish-owned bridges. But when state inspections revealed critical deficiencies in bridges in the towns of Houma and Gibson in Louisiana’s Terrebonne Parish, it was determined that repairs to the existing bridges were not possible, so Acrow 700XS truss panel bridges were selected to replace them.

Acrow’s prefabricated panel bridges provided a simple design, reduced installation time and overall project cost savings. Another benefit to using the company’s pre-engineered structures for these jobs was the ability of the bridges to completely span the waterways below – an important factor in the low-lying areas of Louisiana. Here, waterways are prone to flooding and debris is often caught in the multiple pier piles of the old bridge designs. The Acrow design eliminated these piers, allowing flowing water to carry debris under the single span, eliminating the need to clear it.

The Buquet Street bridge in Houma was replaced with a 90-foot-long Acrow bridge with a 24-foot-wide roadway, an integrated guide rail system with a TL-2 load rating, and a 5-foot-wide cantilevered walkway. The North Bayou Black Drive bridge in Gibson was replaced with a 70-foot-long by 24-foot-wide Acrow panel bridge with a TL-2 guide rail. Both bridges include deck panels that distribute loads efficiently. The epoxy aggregate non-skid deck surface is durable and long lasting. The bridge projects were completed October 2015.

“The Acrow bridges provided a simple design, quick installation and a long life expectancy. They meet and exceed the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s load and design requirements,” says Perry Blanchard, Terrebonne Parish’s public works operations manager. “Acrow met all of our requirements, and the Acrow Bridge staff was always very helpful with answering our questions from the first call to project completion.”

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