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Lafourche Parish Council hears infrastructure updates as airport connector bridge slips into 2026
Summary
Engineers told the Lafourche Parish Council on Oct. 28 that machinery testing for the airport connector bridge is complete but shipping and installation delays mean the contractor’s April 2026 completion date will likely slip into summer 2026. Staff also updated multiple pump station, drainage and boat-launch projects.
Engineers told the Lafourche Parish Council on Oct. 28 that testing of major machinery for the airport connector road and bridge is complete but shipment and installation delays mean the contractor’s April 2026 completion date will likely slip into the summer of 2026.
Joe Piciela of Piciela and Associates, who presented the engineering report, said the project is being coordinated with the Great Lafourche Port Commission, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and the Federal Highway Administration. "All that testing is complete. ... they're getting ready to ship the machinery down to us, hopefully sometime next week," Piciela said, but he added the project has already slipped from an original 2024 schedule and could be about 18 months behind.
Why it matters: the connector and bridge are regionally significant pieces of transportation infrastructure; continued delays affect port access, local traffic and dependent contracts. The council pressed for a written schedule and a copy of priority road work listings tied to related projects.
Other project updates - Hurricane damage repairs: Plans and specifications for the Rita Pump Station are complete and staff are coordinating with consultant HGA to pursue FEMA funds so work can begin once funding is secured. Piciela described the installation as two 24-inch pumps with diesel engines; one pump will also have an electric drive to simplify maintenance.
- Sugar Ridge pump station: The contractor is nearing completion; hydraulic piping is in place and crews are finishing fuel lines prior to testing.
- LaRose boat launch: Plans and specs are ready and the parish has secured $200,000 in federal Wallop-Breaux funds. Parish staff are seeking additional funding from the parish budget and the Great Lafourche Port Commission; the project will be bid once funding is in place.
- Cote Blanche project: Initial bids exceeded the budget. Staff reduced the scope to ramps and electrical work and removed immediate dry-docking of the pontoon to get the project within budget; revised bids were scheduled to be received the following morning.
- West Side drainage improvements: Culvert installations on LA 3235 and hydraulic modeling with Olsen are complete. Staff plan targeted projects on West 11th, 13th, 54th and 133rd streets and will return with proposed designs and a budget.
Council follow-up and next steps Councilmembers asked for copies of the parish's 50-street priority list for road improvements and pressed staff for more precise timelines, especially for the airport connector and dry-docking needs at the Cut Off bridge. Piciela said he will report back on bid results and funding as projects advance.
The council took no formal action on these updates; they served as informational reports and set expectations for future agenda items and budget requests.
