NEW ORLEANS - The Louisiana National Guard's 205th Engineer
Battalion constructed an improved ribbon bridge to be used in support of
operations related to the oil spill in St. Bernard Parish May 6.
About 50 members of the 2225th Multi-Role Bridge Company, based in Marrero,
La., built the 300-foot temporary wharf near the Frank "Blackie" Campo
Marina in Shell Beach, La., so that oil booms can easily be picked up and
distributed to fishermen that are working in support of the mission.
"Our main job is to construct the bridge so that the process of distribution
becomes easier for all involved," said Maj. James S. Slaven, executive
officer of the 205th.
After transporting their boats and equipment to the Campo Marina in two
separate convoys, the Guardsmen staged and accounted for all pieces.
The Soldiers loaded the boats into the bay, and one-by-one, each bridge
section was dropped into the water and transported into the open bay for
construction.
"Because we need adequate space to put it together, we have to move each
section about 500 feet into the open bay," said Slaven.
"It seems like a tedious process, but once we get started it rolls easily
and quickly," said 1st Sgt. Kevin P. Giroir, senior enlisted advisor for the
2225th.
Once the sections were transported to the working area, a crew connected
each component until the whole bridge was completed.
"They worked diligently to get this complete," said Slaven. "We were
originally expecting to be here until 10 p.m., but they completed the
mission by 5 p.m."
As a last order of business, Slaven inspected the bridge and gave it a final
"thumbs-up" after their work met and surpassed the standards. A team of
about ten Guardsmen will be onsite daily to maintain the bridge.
"I am really proud of each of these Soldiers," said Slaven. "They worked
really hard today to help Louisiana, and I want them to know that I
appreciate their efforts."