Crescent City Connection to Face Westbound Repairs
Louisiana transportation officials will begin about 18 months of repairs on the westbound span starting Tuesday night, with intermittent lane closures.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Car Maintenance
Work on the westbound Crescent City Connection begins Tuesday night, with two right lanes closing after Election Day polls close at 8 p.m. The Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development's $6.5 million project will rehabilitate the bridge's vertical truss members and splice plates.
Why it matters
The repairs address deterioration in structural steel that can occur as a bridge ages, particularly with exposure to New Orleans' climate, and are intended to preserve the bridge's structure and extend its service life. Drivers crossing between the West Bank and downtown New Orleans should expect intermittent lane closures during the work.
The $6.5 million project will clean and spot-paint the bridge's vertical truss members and repair splice plates on a westbound span built in 1988. The westbound portion remains safe for driving while the work proceeds.
The players
Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development
The state agency responsible for maintaining and repairing state highways and bridges, including the Crescent City Connection, which it oversees for this rehabilitation project.
The details
Work starts with installation of concrete barriers after polls close on Election Day, and two H.O.V. lanes will close from 7 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Monday, weather permitting, for barrier inspection. Lanes reopen at 6 a.m. Wednesday before closing again from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday night.
Timeline
Tuesday night (week of Nov. 2): Westbound repairs begin and intermittent lane closures start.
Nov. 3, after 8 p.m.: Two right lanes close as concrete barriers are installed.
7 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Monday: Two H.O.V. lanes close for barrier inspection, weather permitting.
Jan. 29, 2027: The rightmost lane temporarily reopens for Mardi Gras.
Roadmap
The Crescent City Connection's westbound span, completed in 1988, is now entering the phase of structural rehabilitation typical of steel truss bridges of that era. Rehabilitating vertical truss members and splice plates is a far less costly path than replacement for maintaining an aging crossing.
Commuters crossing the Crescent City Connection should plan for lane closures on Election Day and on the weekend of barrier inspections. Drivers can still cross the westbound span safely throughout the project.
The takeaway
Plan alternate timing for Election Day evening and the Friday-to-Monday inspection weekend when crossing the Crescent City Connection. Keep an eye on the reopening schedule for the rightmost lane ahead of Mardi Gras.
What happens next
The rightmost lane is expected to reopen when the project enters its next phase, and one H.O.V. lane will remain closed during that phase.
Further reading
Learn more about car maintenance and how aging infrastructure affects vehicle travel in New Orleans.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NOLA.
