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Airport connector likely to slip to summer 2026; parish hears updates on pump station, boat launch and bridge work
Summary
Engineer Joe PCola told the council that machinery for the airport connector bridge is ready and being shipped but the official April 2026 completion may slip into summer; the council was briefed on FEMA funding pursuit for Rita pump station, $200,000 federal funds for the LaRose boat launch, and revised scope on a coastal bridge after bids exceeded budget.
Joe PCola of PCL and Associates gave the council a multi-project update during the Oct. 28 meeting, saying work on the airport connector road and bridge is resuming as machinery finishes testing and is prepared for shipment.
"The machinery is complete...they're cleaning it up and doing some touch-up painting now," PCola said. He noted the contractor's official completion date remains April 2026 but added, "I'm kind of anticipating they might slip a little bit into the early part of the summer of 2026." He told the council a crane barge and crane have moved onto the site and the contractor will begin setting main towers and the lift span once equipment arrives.
On Hurricane Ida storm‑damage remediation, PCola said plans and specs for the Rita pump station are finished and staff are working with consultant HGA to pursue FEMA funding. He described the project as including two new 24‑inch pumps with diesel engines; one pump will have an electric drive to ease maintenance and reliability testing is next.
PCola also reported the LaRose boat launch plans are complete; the project has secured $200,000 in federal funds but officials are seeking additional parish and Greater Leaf Fouch Port Commission support before going to bid.
Council members pressed for specifics: Councilman Arab asked whether the April 2026 date was still reliable and PCola reiterated the official date but acknowledged probable slippage. Several members expressed frustration that the Cutoff Bridge work and dry‑dock maintenance have repeatedly slipped; one member said the barge has not been dry‑docked in more than a decade and urged prioritizing approaches and electrical work now to manage costs.
PCola said several bridge bids came in over budget and the project team reduced the scope to approaches and electrical work to fit available funding and planned to rebid the revised package.
