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Parish engineers report progress on airport connector, pump stations and pump‑station change orders
Summary
Engineers told the Lafourche Parish Council that the airport connector and lift span are nearing assembly with a likely 3–4 day bayou closure for installation, several pump station projects are moving to bids or construction and the Moore Vaughn contract was adjusted with a $12,010 balancing change order.
Parish engineers updated the Lafourche Parish Council on Dec. 10 about multiple infrastructure projects, including the airport connector and lift bridge, two pump station projects and a change order on the Moore Vaughn pump station.
Joe Pisiola of Pisiola & Associates said Sea Level Construction is progressing on the airport connector road and the lift span: "They're doing some touch up welding and some touch up painting. And it'll be put on a barge and then rotated into place..." He warned that installing the lift span will likely require a 3‑ to 4‑day closure of navigation in Bayou Lafourche and that mariners will be notified through the port and parish.
Pisiola also outlined pump station work: the Rita Pump Station plans are being finalized for bidding and the Sugar Ridge Pump Station received bids in September with Lowland Construction designated the low bidder and issued a notice to proceed on Dec. 2. He said new pumps have been purchased and site prep is underway.
Separately, Shane Guillen of High Tide Consultants summarized the Moore Vaughn pump station contract. The low qualified bidder submitted a base bid of $875,440; after demucking, structural fill and five weather days, a balancing change order raised the contract price to $887,450. The council later approved Change Order No. 1 for Sea Level Construction that the agenda records as increasing the contract by $12,010 and adding five days to the work schedule.
Why it matters: These projects affect transportation, drainage and storm resilience across the parish. The lift span installation will temporarily alter navigation and the pump‑station contracts and change orders set costs and timelines for drainage and flood‑control infrastructure.
What members asked: Council members asked whether the connector road could open before the lift span is set; Pisiola said the contractor is using parts of that road for staging and recommended against opening it early for safety reasons. Council members also pressed on striping and a DOTD grant that will fund requested striping work.
Next steps: Vendors will advertise the Eunice Alamo pump station in the coming weeks with bids expected Jan. 28, 2025; staff will coordinate notices for any bayou closures and proceed with the bid processes and contract administration recorded by the council.
