NORCO, La. -- The Army Corps of Engineers expects to open more bays on a major spillway near New Orleans.

WWL-TV

Bonnet Carre Spillway

The corps has been opening bays on the Bonnet Carre Spillway daily since Wednesday. And spokesman Eric Hughes says the corps expected to open 25 more bays Saturday.

That would bring to 160 the number of bays open. The Bonnet Carre has 380 total bays.

Opening the spillway is meant to spare New Orleans any flooding from the swollen river, plus ease pressure on area levees and improve navigation conditions for ships and barges.

The corps began opening the spillway about 30 miles above New Orleans on April 11. Heavy rains farther north in the waterlogged Mississippi Valley prompted the opening, the first in 11 years. Hughes says officials are expecting the river to crest at New Orleans on Tuesday or Wednesday. But since they're also anticipating a slow drop in river levels, he says the spillway could remain open for a couple weeks yet.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)