MacArthur Drive Interchange

Design Engineering, Inc. (DEI) was the prime consultant for a major infrastructure project that greatly improved access and reduced congestion in the Westbank area. The goal of the project was to improve access by reducing the distance between successive westbound off-bridge ramps and providing bridge ramps from the service roads to the elevated expressway. This was particularly important because the orientation of the traffic demand in this area strongly favors movements to and from the east, the direction of the Crescent City Connection Bridge over the Mississippi River.

As the prime consultant, DEI was responsible for the feasibility study, preliminary and final design, and construction services, including a study of several alternatives. Additionally, DEI contracted with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LaDOTD) to provide construction engineering services during the construction.

This $85.2 million project consisted of two phases: relocating the existing at-grade frontage road, drainage improvements, utility relocations, and right-of-way acquisition from Manhattan Boulevard to Peters Road, and widening the existing elevated Westbank Expressway from Manhattan Boulevard to the Harvey Canal to accommodate a new entrance and exit ramp.