US 11 NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILROAD OVERPASS
ROUTE: US 11
ST. TAMMANY PARISH, LOUISIANA
STRUCTURE NUMBER 625200180400531
RECALL NUMBER 059090
Description of the Bridge
The US 11 Bridge over Norfolk Southern Railroad (Structure
Number 625200180400531, Recall Number 059090, Louisiana Historic Resource
Inventory No. 52-02393) is a two lane, eight span bridge constructed in 1937 of
concrete deck and bents with steel I-beams. It is located in on US Highway 11,
near Slidell, in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana (approximately latitude 30.293333,
longitude,-89.776417). The overall bridge length is approximately 828 feet with
an approximate 28.2 foot width.
National Register Eligibility
Through consultation between the Louisiana Department of
Transportation and Development (LADOTD), the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA), the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Officer (LASHPO) and the
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), the bridge was determined
eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and was included
in LADOTD’s Historic Bridge Inventory as a Non-Priority for Historic
Preservation due to its condition and the probability that it could not be
rehabilitated or modified to meet transportation criteria and the U.S.
Secretary of the Interior standards for the treatment of historic bridges.
Additionally, it was included in the Programmatic Agreement Among the FHWA, the
LADOTD, the ACHP and the LASHPO regarding Management of Historic Bridges in
Louisiana, executed August 25, 2015, (viewable at this web link http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/public_info/projects/home.aspx?key=48)
This steel I-beam bridge has significance for its association
with important trends or events that have made a significant contribution to
the broad patterns of Louisiana history. The significance of this grade
separation structure is directly related to its funding through the U.S. Works
Program Grade Crossing program during the Depression-era to provide safe railroad-highway
crossings. In the 1930s, increased attention was given to creating grade
separations between railway lines and roads and specific legislation was passed
to provide funds for highway-rail grade separations through the NIRA (1933),
Hayden Cartwright Act (1934), and Emergency Relief Appropriation Act (1935).
The U.S. Works Grade Crossing Program resulted from the Emergency Relief
Appropriation Act funding. This bridge’s association with a federal
Depression-era program is documented in the Louisiana Highway Commission Biennial
reports. The bridge exhibits alterations to the railing with the addition of guardrail
that results in a minor loss of integrity, but continues to convey its
significance as the work of the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act. This bridge
is eligible for the National Register under Criterion A: Politics/Government
and Transportation. No evidence was found during research or data collection activities
to indicate that this bridge is an important example of bridge design, engineering,
or construction. This bridge does not possess significance under Criterion C.
Status of the Bridge
The bridge is owned by the Louisiana Department of
Transportation and currently carries US 11 vehicular traffic over the Norfolk
Southern Railroad. LADOTD in conjunction with the FHWA proposes replacement of
the bridge under State Project No H.000688 and Federal Project Number H000688. The
estimated replacement date is to be determined.
As a mitigation stipulation for the Adverse Effect to this
historic bridge, the bridge is being marketed to other entities for historic
preservation. If ownership of the bridge is not transferred to another entity
for an alternate use at a different location, the bridge will be demolished.
The bridge contains lead based paint.
Re-use of the bridge as a non-vehicular bridge is encouraged.
If you are interested in acquiring this bridge for adaptive, non-vehicular use
please read the stipulations for bridge ownership transfer below. This bridge
will be marketed until May 6, 2024. Contact
Patrick Vines at Patrick Vines@la.gov or
225-242-4514 by May 6, 2024 if
you are interested in acquiring this bridge for non-vehicular, adaptive re-use
or if you have questions on submitting a proposal.
Dimensions of the Bridge
The overall bridge length is approximately 828 feet with an approximately 28.2 foot
width.
Funds for Relocation and Reuse of the Bridge
Funding that would be used for demolition of historic bridges can
be used for their preservation at a new location. The estimated cost of
demolition of the bridge is $1,400,976.00.
An amount not exceeding
this estimated cost of demolition ($1,400,976.00) would be made available to
the new owner as a reimbursement for relocation and historic preservation of
the bridge.
Stipulations for Bridge Ownership Transfer
The entity receiving the bridge must agree to the following:
The new owner would be charged the salvage value of the bridge which is estimated to be $61,267.95. (According to Title 7 Section 14(A) of the Louisiana Constitution, property or things of value of the state shall not be donated to or for any person, association, or corporation, public or private).
The bridge contains lead base paint. The estimated cost for lead paint abatement is
approximately $201,628. The new owner
of the bridge would be responsible for obtaining their own estimate and paying
for lead paint abatement. DOTD would not
be responsible for lead paint abatement if the bridge is transferred to a new
owner.
The entity must
accept full ownership and all financial and legal responsibilities, including,
but not limited to, maintenance, liability, and permitting.
The entity shall
ensure that the transferred
bridge is closed to motorized vehicular traffic (e.g., cars and trucks).
If the bridge is
relocated, the relocation, reassembly and necessary permitting will be the
responsibility of the entity taking ownership.
The proposed use
of the transferred bridge will be subject to the approval of FHWA Louisiana
Division (lead federal agency), LADOTD (lead state agency), and Louisiana State
Historic Preservation Office (LASHPO).
The entity will be required to execute a
preservation agreement that will include the above stipulations.
Submitting a Proposal
Interested parties must submit a
proposal to LADOTD in writing (either by email or letter) of their interest by May 6, 2024. Please reference project number H.000688.
Send proposals:
Via email: Patrick.Vines@la.gov
Via mail:
Louisiana Department of Transportation and
Development
Section 28
P.O. Box 94245
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9245
Attn: Patrick Vines
The proposal must address:
Location and use: Where
will the bridge be relocated, what will be its new use, and how it will be made
accessible to the public?
Setting: Will the bridge continue to maintain a
similar crossing as its original site, such as a water crossing or as a
separation structure? Does the proposed relocation site have a similar setting
as the original?
Assumption of responsibilities: The
new owner must demonstrate understanding of the specific responsibilities they
will take over when ownership is transferred, including title and
insurance. The proposal must
specifically discuss that the new owner will:
a)
Maintain the bridge and the features
that give the historic bridge its historic significance for a period of at least 20 years; and
b) Assume all future legal and financial responsibility
for the historic bridge, which may include an agreement to hold the state
transportation department harmless in any liability action.
Rehabilitation: Are there plans prepared for the
rehabilitation of the structure on the new site? Do the plans meet the
Secretary of the Interior Standard? In the case of disassembly, are disassembly
plans prepared?
Requirements and studies:
Describe any additional special requirements for the reuse of the bridge
(e.g., if the bridge will be used for pedestrians, railing geometry and
capacity restrictions for this use should be considered) and any additional
studies or environmental clearances that are needed for the relocation,
including potential archaeological survey of new site.
Cost estimate of the cost to relocate the
structure and the reinstall at new site, including how funds will be obtained
or raised.
Schedule: Outline of the proposed
relocation schedule, addressing ability to have bridge off its current site by
the scheduled replacement date (to be determined by LADOTD) and plans for
temporary storage of the bridge, if needed.
Evaluation of Proposals
Proposals will be reviewed by a selected
committee including representatives of LADOTD environmental and bridge staff,
and the LA State Historic Preservation Office.
Each proposal will be reviewed and evaluated based on how well it meets
the above proposal criteria.
If the first choice in owner withdraws from
the process prior to relocation, the bridge will not be re-marketed. Rather, the review committee's second choice
in owner, if any, will be selected. The timeframe for relocation will not be
re-started with the re-selection; however, a relocation extension may be
granted at the owner's discretion. If
there is no proposal that meets the above proposal criteria, then the bridge
can be demolished.
Schedule for review of proposals
Proposals will be reviewed within 2
months of submittal deadline.
Additional information:
If you have questions about the bridge
or the process of submitting a proposal, please contact Patrick Vines at (225)
242-4514 or Patrick Vines@la.gov.
