Key Challenges

The Causeway Boulevard Overpass (also known as the Causeway Bridge over Airline Drive / Metairie Road) is a vital elevated structure in Metairie, Louisiana (Jefferson Parish), carrying North Causeway Boulevard over the busy Airline Drive traffic circle and Metairie Road. Built in 1957, this bridge serves as a critical gateway connecting the southern end of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway system to the densely populated Metairie area and greater New Orleans metropolitan region.

This high-traffic urban location made the project highly visible and demanding. Structural repairs required the removal of legacy lead-based paint from steel members in multiple locations across the bridge. Working in a densely populated area with constant public access below and around the structure created significant challenges:

• Lead paint removal in a high public access area: Abrasive blasting and surface preparation over a major roadway risked releasing dust and debris into the surrounding community, posing potential health and environmental concerns for motorists, pedestrians, nearby residents, and businesses.
• Extended duration and multiple work zones: The repairs spanned a 12-month period across various locations on the bridge, requiring phased work while maintaining traffic flow and public safety.
• Strict environmental and safety compliance: All activities had to meet rigorous regulatory standards to prevent any adverse impact on air quality, the environment, or the public in this active urban setting.

These factors demanded specialized expertise in lead removal and containment to ensure the structural repairs could proceed safely without disrupting the community or compromising public health.

How We Met the Challenge

As an AMPP Q2 certified contractor (for containment and lead paint removal), Paragon supported the general contractor by executing precise, high-standard lead removal across multiple locations on the Causeway Boulevard Overpass over a 12-month period.

• We designed and installed tailored SSPC Class 1A containment systems (the highest level) at each work zone. These fully sealed, negative-pressure enclosures captured 100% of debris, dust, and lead particles during surface preparation and removal activities.
• Our crews performed personal and ambient air monitoring throughout the project, including continuous sampling inside and outside the containment zones. This rigorous verified worker safety and confirmed that no contaminants migrated beyond the work areas.
• All lead removal was conducted with strict adherence to federal, state, and local regulations, allowing the structural repairs to advance efficiently while keeping the bridge open to traffic with minimal disruption.