2024 Texas & Louisiana Best Projects
Highway/Bridge, Award of Merit — I-10/Loyola Drive Interchange to New Orleans Airport
Photo courtesy Gilchrist Construction Co.
I-10/LOYOLA DRIVE INTERCHANGE TO THE NEW ORLEANS AIRPORT
Kenner, La.
Award of Merit
Submitted by: Gilchrist Construction Co.
OWNER: Louisiana Dept. of Transportation and Development
LEAD DESIGN FIRM: Stantec Consulting Services
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Gilchrist Construction Co.
OWNER VERIFICATION FIRM: Gulf Engineers and Consultants
To create a $141.45-million interchange connecting I-10 to the recently opened terminal at New Orleans International Airport, scope of work included construction of two elevated flyover ramps and the state’s first diverging diamond interchange (DDI) on Loyola Drive.
Crews also installed enhancements such as new sound walls, additional lanes on I-10, shared-use paths and updated interchange lighting.
Five named hurricanes struck in 2020 and another in 2021, suspending work temporarily each time. To mitigate these delays as much as possible, the team resequenced work to shorten the critical path.
Although the site was highly congested with interstate traffic, airport traffic and utilities, the team constructed detours and adjusted work sequences to maintain continuous progress on the flyover ramps. Work was completed in May 2024 without disrupting utility services and with minimal impact on heavy interstate and airport traffic. A traffic queue detection system also provided advance warnings of any delays on the interstate, significantly reducing the risk of serious rear-end collisions.
Through the use of a DDI, delays through the interchange fell by 19%. The DDI also saved more than 32,000 sq ft of right-of-way acquisitions and prevented six residential relocations. It also eliminated a third flyover ramp from the original plan, resulting in approximately $60 million in savings.
