Carries 2 lanes of US 90 Other name(s) Rigolets Bridge Total length 1,182 m Location New Orleans | Crosses Rigolets Opened 15 January 2008 Longest span 122 m Body of water Rigolets | |
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Locale New Orleans and Slidell (Louisiana) Design Through truss swing bridge (old), box girder bridge (new) Width 20 feet (6 m) (old), 40 feet (12 m) Bridge type Swing bridge, Truss bridge, Box girder bridge Similar CSX Rigolets Pass Brid, Chef Menteur Bridge, Fort Pike, Maestri Bridge, Swing bridge | ||
The Fort Pike Bridge (also known as the Rigolets Bridge) carries U.S. Route 90 across the Rigolets on the eastern side of Lake Pontchartrain between New Orleans and Slidell in Louisiana. The bridge opened on June 9, 1930, and along with the Chef Menteur Bridge provided a free route between New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. A new span was constructed just to the north of the old span.
High-rise replacement
Construction of a new $50 million high-rise bridge began in October 2004. It was delayed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which pushed a devastating storm surge through the area. The new bridge is just over one mile (1.6 km) in length and features two 12-foot (3.7 m) lanes with 8-foot (2.4 m) shoulders on both sides. The bridge rises to 72 feet (22 m) to allow marine traffic to pass without interruption of bridge traffic. The new span opened to traffic on January 15, 2008. After completion, of the new span, the old bridge was demolished.