Fun Fact: Louisiana Has 4 of the 5 Longest Bridges in the U.S.

One thing every motorist knows about Louisiana is that this state has a ton of bridges. They are everywhere! Some take forever to cross because they are so long. While others have gained national attention for being among the steepest, scariest, and most dangerous bridges in the U.S.

In case you're wondering, that honor goes to the Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles. Crossing it can be a harrowing experience as it has no lights with 4 lanes, two west and two east, and no shoulder. Though it's not the tallest, it holds the title of being the steepest bridge in Louisiana.

Here's another terrifying fact, most trucks, SUVs, and Vans are taller than the side railings! Which is why it gives the most seasoned truck drivers panic attacks. Like this poor fella.

By the way, according to the I-10 Bridge Task Force, the bridge also known as the I-10 Bridge opened in 1952. It was designed with a 50-year lifespan to carry 37,000 cars per day. Today, it's nearly 73 years old, and sees roughly 90,000 vehicles per day. and is older than the Louisiana portion of the I-10 interstate system it sits on. A new one, can't be built fast enough!

HOW MANY BRIDGES DOES LOUISIANA HAVE AND WHY SO MANY?

According to Trip Net, Louisiana is home to an impressive 12,900 bridges.  First, Louisiana has a lot of different waterways rivers, lakes bayous, and such. Secondly, the Mississippi River runs through Louisiana and it requires 11 bridges alone. Third, with its abundant waterways, Louisiana's bridges are essential for a functioning transportation system and connecting communities that would otherwise be isolated by water.

Fun fact. Did you know Louisiana has 4 of the top 5 longest bridges in the country? Each one of them plays a major role in the nation's transportation and economic development. Here's another fun fact, Louisiana is not only home to the longest bridge in America, but the longest continuous over-water bridge in the world.

HERE ARE THE TOP 4 LONGEST BRIDGES IN LOUISIANA

1.) Lake Pontchartrain Causeway -
The original two-lane Causeway Bridge, built in 1956, was expanded with a second bridge in late 1969 to handle traffic. Both bridges rest on 9,500 concrete pilings and were put together quickly using a simple design of pilings, caps, and identical 56-foot panels, all produced off-site in an assembly-line fashion. Once the longest bridge over water, the Causeway now holds the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous bridge over water. In 2011, after the Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Bridge opened, the record was split into two categories. The Causeway, at 23.83 miles, remains the longest bridge in the U.S. and the world’s longest bridge continuously over water. It also features a bascule for boats to pass through.

2.) Manchac Swamp Bridge - 22.8 miles

Louisiana has a large number of long bridges primarily due to its extensive network of waterways, particularly the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, which require long spans to connect different areas of the state, with the most notable example being the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, one of the longest continuous bridges over water in the world; this need for long bridges was also significantly accelerated by Governor Huey P. Long's ambitious road-building program.

Which included constructing numerous bridges across the state to connect previously isolated regions that play a crucial role in transportation and economic development. These include the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, Manchac Swamp Bridge, Atchafalaya Basin Bridge, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, and the I-10 Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge.

3.) Atchafalaya Basin Bridge - 18.29 miles

Construction of the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge began in 1971, and it officially opened to the public in 1973. Spanning 18.29 miles across the Atchafalaya Basin, one of the largest swamps in the United States, the bridge was the longest in America at its completion. Today, it's still one of the longest in the nation.

The bridge consists of two parallel bridges—one for westbound traffic and the other for eastbound traffic. These lanes merge at key points, including crossings over the Whiskey Bay Pilot Channel and the Atchafalaya River.

Despite its engineering significance, the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge has seen its share of accidents, mainly because the lines are narrow and there's little to no shoulder. In response to safety concerns, the speed limit was reduced from 70 mph to 60 mph in 1999, and in 2003, a further reduction to 55 mph was implemented for 18-wheelers.

In 1989, the bridge was renamed the Louisiana Airborne Memorial Bridge to honor the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army. Most recently, in October 2023, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development celebrated the bridge's 50th anniversary.

4.) Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge - 11 miles
The U.S. 61 Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge is a twin concrete bridge located near Norco, Louisiana, about 20 miles from New Orleans. It stretches 1,830.62 meters (6,006 feet) and carries U.S. Route 61 (Airline Highway) over the Bonnet Carré Spillway in St. Charles Parish. The original bridge, which opened in 1935 with four narrow lanes, faced heavy traffic and accidents, leading to the addition of a parallel bridge in 1984. Today, the original span is used for eastbound traffic, while the newer span handles westbound traffic. If you're interested in long bridges, the Louisiana Highway 1 Bridge spans 8.26 miles, and there are many other remarkable bridges in the U.S. worth exploring!