| Atchafalaya Bridge | |
| Spans | Atchafalaya Swamp |
| Lanes | 2×2 |
| Total length | 29,290 meters |
| Main span | ? |
| Bridge deck height | ? |
| Opening | 12-03-1973 |
| Traffic intensity | 42,400 mvt/day |
| Location | Map |
According to transporthint, the Atchafalaya Bridge, also called the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge or Atchafalaya Swamp Bridge is a girder bridge in the United States, located in the state of Louisiana.
Characteristics
The Atchafalaya Bridge spans the Atchafalaya Swamp, part of a tributary of the Mississippi River. The bridge is 29.3 kilometers long and is one of the longest bridges in the world. Over the bridge, which consists of two parallel bridges, Interstate 10 in Louisiana runs from Lafayatte to Baton Rouge. There are two connections to the underlying road network in the bridge. The highway has 2×2 lanes and mainly handles through traffic in this area. The bridges are quite narrow and have narrow emergency lanes. The speed limit is 60 mph for passenger cars and 55 mph for trucks, which are also not allowed to overtake on the bridge.
History
The bridge was built in the early 1970s as part of the construction of Interstate 10 through Louisiana. It was one of the last sections of I-10 to be opened in this area. As part of an Interstate Highway, the bridge has always been toll-free. When opened, it was the third longest road bridge in the world, after the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway and Manchac Swamp Bridge which are also in Louisiana. In 2013, it was still the seventh longest road bridge in the world, in 2021 the tenth longest road bridge in the world. A section control will be installed on the bridge in 2022.
Traffic intensities
In 2021, 42,400 vehicles drove over the bridge every day, which means that it is not overloaded. The distance to larger cities means that there is little rush hour traffic.
Bonnet Carre Spillway Bridge
| Bonnet Carre Spillway Bridge | |
| Spans | Bonnet Carre Spillway |
| Lanes | 2×2 |
| Total length | ~19,100 meters |
| Main span | ? meter |
| Bridge deck height | ? meter |
| Opening | 17-12-1971 |
| Traffic intensity | 51,000 mvt/day |
| Location | Map |
According to travelationary, the Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge is a girder bridge in the United States, located in the state of Louisiana, west of New Orleans.
Characteristics
The Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge spans wetlands, the Bonnet Carré Spillway and part of the Lake Pontchartrain west of New Orleans. The bridge is a standard low girder bridge with a length of approximately 19.1 kilometers. They are actually two parallel bridges. The Bonnet Carré Spillway is a 3.6-kilometer-wide overflow that can drain excess water from the Mississippi River to Lake Pontchartrain at high tide. The bridge is mostly in St. Charles Parish, but also a part in St. John the Baptist Parish and a short part in Jefferson Parish. There are three connections in the viaduct, namely a connection to Laplace, a junction with the starting point of Interstate 55 and a junction with Interstate 310.
History
Constructed in the early 1970s, the viaduct opened to traffic on December 17, 1971 and relieved the much shorter Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge on US 61 in Louisiana, which is much shorter.
Traffic intensities
In 2010, 51,000 vehicles crossed the bridge every day.
Crescent City Connection
| Crescent City Connection | |
| Spans | Mississippi River |
| Lanes | 2×4 |
| Total length | 4,093 meters |
| Main span | 480 meters |
| Bridge deck height | 52 meters |
| Opening | 00-04-1958 |
| Traffic intensity | 155,800 mvt/day |
| Location | Map |
The Crescent City Connection is a United States two-tier cantilever and truss bridge, located in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Characteristics
The Crescent City Connection consists of two parallel and somewhat identical truss bridges spanning the Mississippi River in New Orleans. The bridge connection is 4,093 meters long with a main span of 480 meters. The bridge deck is 52 meters above the river. US 90 runs over the bridge, designed as a freeway with 2×4 lanes and a two – lane HOV interchange lane. The northern bridge has a total of 6 lanes and is therefore the widest, the southern bridge has 4 lanes. None of the bridges have a full hard shoulder. Both bridges are 100 meters apart. It is the only bridge connection across the Mississippi in New Orleans itself.
History
The bridge was built in phases. The first bridge was constructed between 1954 and 1958 and opened in April 1958 as the Greater New Orleans Bridge. It was the second bridge in the New Orleans metropolitan area to be built across the Mississippi River and the first in the city itself. When opened, it was the longest cantilever bridge in the world. The second span was constructed between 1981 and 1988 and opened in September 1988. In 1989, the bridge was renamed the Crescent City Connection. The bridge sustained no damage during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and was the only access to the area south of the bridge due to its elevated structure.
Toll
Between 1989 and 2013, tolls were collected on the Crescent City Connection. Payment was possible with the GeauxPass. On May 4, 2013, a referendum was held on whether the toll should be extended for 20 years, which was rejected by a large majority. The toll collection was stopped on March 5, 2013.
Future
It is planned that the bridge will eventually become part of Interstate 49, when US 90 between Lafayette and New Orleans is converted into a freeway.
Traffic intensities
In 2011, 155,800 vehicles crossed the bridge daily, making it the fifth busiest toll bridge in the United States. Traffic jams are frequent during rush hour despite the relatively large capacity of 10 lanes.
GeauxPass
GeauxPass (pronounced: Go Pass ) is the electronic payment system for toll roads in the US state of Louisiana. It concerns a transponder in the form of a sticker.
Name
Geaux is a French name common in Louisiana, especially the ending -eaux. It’s a regional pun on ‘Go Pass’.
System
The GeauxPass is a sticker with an RFID transponder that is linked to an account. This sticker cannot be removed after application. If you drive through a toll gate, the amount due is automatically debited. Until December 31, 2017, there was also a small ‘box’ as a transponder, but that system was discontinued after that.
The GeauxPass does not operate on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. This toll authority itself issues tags that are not compatible with other systems. Also, GeauxPass is not compatible with electronic toll systems outside of Louisiana. The use of the sticker is minimal, as it can only be used on one toll road that is outside the through routes.
History
The GeauxPass was introduced on January 4, 1989 to pay electronic tolls on the Crescent City Connection in New Orleans. This was one of the first tags in the United States. In 2013, this connection became toll-free. Since 2009 the GeauxPass can be used on the Highway 1 elevated road. The GeauxPass can be used on any future toll road in Louisiana.
List of toll roads
There is only one toll road where the GeauxPass can be used.
