Louisiana is home to some of the most beautiful waterways in the country, so it’s no surprise that we have some of the most interesting bridges as well. Conservation and rehabilitation of bridges is becoming a growing issue, however, as the American Society of Civil Engineers recently gave Louisiana a D+ grade on our bridges. Here are 9 of the most amazing bridges in Louisiana.
- Causeway Bridge
Glenn / flickr This is now the longest bridge over a continuous body of water. Prior to 2011, it was in the Guinness World Records for being the longest bridge over water–period. Others said that the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in China was longer. Now, the Causeway is the longest bridge over a body of water (continuous), while the Jiazhou Bay Bridge is the longest bridge over water (aggregate).
- Hale Boggs Memorial Bridge
apo lanthar / flickr While this bridge between Destrehan and Luling was under construction, a ferry was struck by a tanker and 78 people perished when the ferry capsized.
- Crescent City Connection
gyrofrog / wikicommons This is the most heavily traveled and widest bridge in the lower Mississippi River, averaging around 180,000 drivers a day.
- Burr’s Ferry Bridge
Patrick Feller / wikicommons This bridge over the Sabine River is on the border of Louisiana and Texas.
- John James Audubon Bridge
CTgcg / wikicommons This newly constructed bridge connects Point Coupee and Feliciana Parish and was named after the legendary naturalist John James Audubon who created some of his most famous bird illustrations while living in Louisiana.
- Kansas City Southern Railroad Bridge, Cross Bayou
Archangle0 / wikicommons Built in 1890, this bridge no longer carries rail traffic and lost all connections to the railroad in 2002. In 1995, it was put on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Israel LaFleur Bridge
CTgcg / wikicommons This bridge is part of Interstate 210 in Lake Charles, and even after surviving Hurricane Rita in 2005, received a structural rating of 96%.
- Calcasieu River Bridge
CTcg / wikicommons This bridge was opened in 1952 and then grandfathered into the Interstate system and was one of the only major bridges in the Lake Charles area for a period of years.
- Huey P Long Bridge
John Olsen / flickr This is a bridge both for vehicles and trains, and is operated in Jefferson Parish by the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad. Before the lanes were widened, this bridge had no shoulder and was notoriously frightening to drivers.
Have you ever driven across one of these bridges? Is there a bridge in your area that needs attention? Send them our way in the comments below.
Glenn / flickr
This is now the longest bridge over a continuous body of water. Prior to 2011, it was in the Guinness World Records for being the longest bridge over water–period. Others said that the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in China was longer. Now, the Causeway is the longest bridge over a body of water (continuous), while the Jiazhou Bay Bridge is the longest bridge over water (aggregate).
apo lanthar / flickr
While this bridge between Destrehan and Luling was under construction, a ferry was struck by a tanker and 78 people perished when the ferry capsized.
gyrofrog / wikicommons
This is the most heavily traveled and widest bridge in the lower Mississippi River, averaging around 180,000 drivers a day.
Patrick Feller / wikicommons
This bridge over the Sabine River is on the border of Louisiana and Texas.
CTgcg / wikicommons
This newly constructed bridge connects Point Coupee and Feliciana Parish and was named after the legendary naturalist John James Audubon who created some of his most famous bird illustrations while living in Louisiana.
Archangle0 / wikicommons
Built in 1890, this bridge no longer carries rail traffic and lost all connections to the railroad in 2002. In 1995, it was put on the National Register of Historic Places.
This bridge is part of Interstate 210 in Lake Charles, and even after surviving Hurricane Rita in 2005, received a structural rating of 96%.
CTcg / wikicommons
This bridge was opened in 1952 and then grandfathered into the Interstate system and was one of the only major bridges in the Lake Charles area for a period of years.
John Olsen / flickr
This is a bridge both for vehicles and trains, and is operated in Jefferson Parish by the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad. Before the lanes were widened, this bridge had no shoulder and was notoriously frightening to drivers.
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