MRC discusses coastal restoration study

The Mississippi River Commission (MRC) recently held a meeting to discuss the Louisiana Coastal Area Ecosystem Restoration Study Report.

The study was designed to map out a strategy for restoring Louisiana's nationally significant coastal wetlands. The recommended plan has seven major components, including five critical restoration projects, a science and technology program, and a series of demonstration projects.

The purpose of the meeting was to provide commission members information on the LCA study to enable them to make a decision.

Commission members present at the meeting were Brig. Gen. Robert Crear (president-designee of the Mississippi River Commission and division commander of the Mississippi Valley Division, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers), Sam Angel and Clifford Smith. R.D. James and Brig. Gen. William Grisoli participated via teleconference.

During the 1.5-hour meeting, the commission reviewed the project, discussed the features and issues, concurred in the findings and recommendation of the New Orleans district engineer, and voted unanimously to recommend implementation.

The MRC Report will now be transmitted to the Corps' headquarters in Washington, D.C., for inclusion in the Chief of Engineer's Report.

If approved, the package will be forwarded to the assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, then sent to Congress.

The study area, which includes the Louisiana coastal area from Mississippi to Texas, is influenced by the Mississippi River. The river's resources are available to contribute to the restoration of the coastal ecosystem. The federal government and state of Louisiana have been conducting ecosystem restoration efforts for the past 14 years under the Breaux Act.

The lessons learned and experience gained from past restoration and research efforts have been applied in the study and can continue to be applied in a systematic way to develop and implement a coast wide plan for addressing the land loss problem and critical needs facing the area.

Boh crews correct bridge with emergency repair

Boh Bros. Construction of New Orleans recently completed an emergency repair job on the Interstate 20 bridge over the Mississippi River between Vicksburg, Miss., and Delta, La.

In February 2004, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development approached Boh Bros. about the emergency repair job when it discovered that the bridge had migrated about 6 in. to the west and was in danger of coming off the caps.

"Baton Rouge headquarters called us directly," said Drue Wands, project manager. "They had plans drawn for the repairs but decided not to wait because the job needed to be done in the cool months when the steel is contracted. If they took the time needed to advertise and receive bids, the condition could worsen and work wouldn't start until the summer."

The 31-year-old, 13,358-ft.-long truss bridge is comprised of a series of simple and cantilevered spans and a suspended span.

DOTD contracted Boh to jack up the bridge, enlarge one of the piers, shorten members and replace finger joints.

"It was an emergency project and there are only a limited number of contractors who could do this type of specialty work," said Gordon Nelson, assistant secretary of operations for the department. "We needed to jack up the bridge before the weather got warm and the steel expanded. Boh has performed well in the past and they performed well on this one, too."

SJB Group receives professional design award

SJB Group Inc. of Baton Rouge recently received a merit award from the Louisiana Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (LC/ASLA) for its Tunica Hills State Preservation Area Master Plan, located near St. Francisville.

The award was presented at the 21st Annual LC/ASLA Awards Presentation. The purpose of the awards program is to recognize Louisiana landscape architects and affiliated professionals that have demonstrated excellence in their pursuit to lead, educate and participate in the careful stewardship, wise planning and artful design of our cultural and natural environment.

Design professionals from the Arkansas Chapter of ASLA judged the submissions.

The awards program was open to all landscape architects registered in Louisiana, professionals in the public or private practice of landscape architecture who reside in Louisiana, affiliated professionals, artists, faculty and students currently teaching or enrolled in a landscape architectural or planning curriculum in Louisiana.

A project did not have to be located in Louisiana to be submitted.