The singing siren of the sea will soon be singing its farewell song.

As it has come to be known because of the incessant shrieking constantly resonating from the steel counterbalance weights grinding against metal framing, the current Bayou Liberty drawbridge on Bayou Liberty Road just outside of Slidell will set sail next year once the construction of the new span is complete.

“Finally,” District 62 Movable Bridge Supervisor Dave Williams said of the pontoon drawbridge that was installed 30 years ago as a temporary fix to the removal of the previous ancient wooden bridge.

Upon its completion next year, the new drawbridge over Bayou Liberty near Slidell will send cousin pontoon bridge home after 30 years of service. (Staff Photo by Chad Ruiz)

“It was never meant to be a permanent structure,” but because of opposition toward the new bridge by local residents, Williams said plans to build were delayed until last year.

“The community didn’t think it would be aesthetically pleasing for their area,” he said.

Williams said the pontoon drawbridge, which has seen more than 15 different bridge operators, is simply a floating barge that was constructed longer ago than he could remember, possibly 50 years, to serve as a temporary bridge while a permanent structure was erected.

He said the barge was first retrieved from Chalmette to use on the Tchefuncte River while the Madisonville bridge was being constructed in the early 70s. Once the swing span across the Tchefuncte was completed, the “floating” drawbridge was moved to Bayou Liberty, where it has been ever since serving a crucial role for both commuter and boating traffic alike.

Unlike the typical drawbridge that sits 10 to 20 feet above the water to allow smaller crafts safe passage without having to raise the bridge, the pontoon bridge floats on the water’s surface, which means it must be opened for all vessels navigating the bayou.

“It becomes a bad bottleneck because the road is so substandard,” Williams said.

He said the new bridge would alleviate much of the traffic congestion because it will eliminate the sharp S-bend currently on Bayou Liberty Road that was created when the temporary bridge was mobilized.

Another hazard commuters will be happy to see go are the steel ramps leading on and off the pontoon bridge.

When the tide in the bayou is low, the barge is forced to float lower on the water, creating a steeper than usual gradient on the ramps, Williams said.

This increased incline causes the ramps to sometimes snag low-riding trailer hitches on trucks, damaging the bridge and truck.

Williams said construction on the new $5 million swing span bridge began last April and is expected to wrap up near summer of next year.

The new span will boast a 367-foot, two-lane highway complete with shoulders. It will also be raised nearly 10 feet off the water, allowing the passage of more boats without having to open the bridge.

Williams said construction crews are on schedule and already have several sections of the bridge erected, including the two-story operator’s tower and cement pivot point that will serve as the fulcrum for the swing span.

Once complete, Williams said the historic singing bridge would likely be tugged back to Chalmette, where it will await its next opportunity for service.

“I’m going to miss it,” Bridge Operator Jerry Hopkins said. “I got used to it singing.”

“I’m just glad to get to see the construction of the new bridge before I retire,” Williams said.