GeoEngineers' drill team subcontracts with local barge operators to perform over-water drilling for projects like the Jimmie Davis Bridge. This photo shows our team on the Mississippi River near the Sunshine Bridge in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, for another project.
The existing Jimmie Davis Bridge (left) and construction on the new, adjacent bridge in October 2024. (Google Street View, All Rights Reserved)
Jimmie Davis Bridge Geotechnical Investigation
Geotechnical drilling, lab work, and recommendations for a new bridge over the Red River.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LaDOTD) needed to replace the existing two-lane Jimmie Davids Bridge (LA 511) across the Red River with a modern four-lane bridge and associated roadway improvements to increase capacity and better serve travelers in the Shreveport-Bossier City region. GeoEngineers provided timely and comprehensive drilling, lab work, and geotechnical recommendations to inform bridge design.
Approach
GeoEngineers’ Baton Rouge-based drill team completed 39 soil borings using multiple rigs simultaneously to meet an accelerated project timeline, including deep over-water borings in the Red River. Samples were analyzed in GeoEngineers’ local AASHTO-accredited soil lab, and a team of Louisiana PEs delivered a geotechnical report to the LaDOTD design-build team.
Results
By providing integrated drilling, testing, and geotechnical analysis from our Baton Rouge office, GeoEngineers was able to meet the project’s accelerated timeline and provide LaDOTD with trustworthy and timely reports. The new Jimmie Davis Bridge will offer improved capacity over the Red River and benefit Western Louisiana for many decades to come.
