Okay, deleted my post before this to clean up what I had found on the internet.
From the minutes of a New Orleans "Planning, Engineering and Construction Committee" from August 2, 2005,
found here.
"It was requested at the Planning, Engineering and Construction previous meeting that a letter be prepared for President Huey’s signature to the legislators informing them of the need for a budget increase up to $20 million for the project and to request their support in obtaining it. Attached is a letter that was sent to each of the individuals legislators.
The Hammond Highway Bridge over the 17th Street Canal is scheduled to be completed by the end of September 2005."
Looks like we have our answer. I also know due to an earlier report I saw on my local news about the bridges, that this was the last one to have been completed. The levees and bridge system would have been almost completely hurricane-proof in a month. A damn month.