| Descending towards Jefferson on U.S. 90 eastbound. Note the slow descent of the railroad trestle as compared to the roadway. The tracks can be seen gradually sweeping to the northeast on the horizon from this vantage point. The bridge comprises the longest and highest steel railroad bridge in the United States at 4.35 miles in length and a 135 foot vertical clearance. Photo taken 11/12/99 |
| Immediately at the northern base of the Huey P. Long Bridge, U.S. 90 turns eastward with Louisiana 48 along the Jefferson Highway. Traffic continuing north enters Louisiana 3152 and the Clearview Parkway. Louisiana 48 travels the Jefferson Highway from the city of Kenner eastward
to U.S. 90. U.S. 90 & Louisiana 48 share a half mile overlap through to the intersection of Central Avenue. Louisiana 3152 links the Huey P. Long Bridge with the Earhart Expressway (Louisiana 3139) and U.S. 61 (Airline Highway). Photo taken 11/12/99. |
| Interstate 510/Louisiana 47 shields and guide signage on U.S. 90 eastbound at the freeway in eastern New Orleans. Residential areas dot the landscape of U.S. 90 from this interchange eastward to the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge. Interstate 510/Louisiana 47 meanwhile offer a quick jaunt to Interstate 10 northward and Chalmette southward. Photo taken 11/06/99. |
| U.S. 90 crosses the Chef Menteur Pass along a truss bridge still within the New Orleans city limits. Now far removed from the hustle and bustle of the Big Easy central business district, U.S. 90 sleepily crosses this waterway between Lakes Borgne and Pontchartrain. The Chef Menteur Pass Bridge opened to traffic in September of 1929. Photo looks at the eastbound approach. Photo taken 11/12/99. |
| A side profile from the bridge, with some local fishermen enjoying the waters. The bridge was closed in early 2008 as construction crews worked to stabilize the bridge and fix its locking mechanism.1 Photo taken 11/12/99. |
| Nearing the split of U.S. 11 north from U.S. 90 (Chef Menteur Highway) in far eastern New Orleans is this bridge status sign. The age of both the Chef Menteur Pass Bridge and until recently, the Fort Pike Bridge necessitated such a sign as both bridges periodically faced closures for maintenance or emergency repairs. However with the January 15, 2008 opening of the new high-level Rigolets Bridge, its reference on this sign is now irrelevant, as there are no movable parts on the new fixed span. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
| Junction U.S. 11 shield assembly posted ahead of the southern terminus of the lengthy north-south route. U.S. 11 begins in the Bayou Sauvage area of swampy eastern New Orleans. Like U.S. 90, U.S. 11 consists of a two-lane causeway like road through eastern Orleans Parish. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
| Due to the low traffic volumes of the area, a simple set of flashers govern the movements at the southern terminus of U.S. 11 in eastern New Orleans. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
| U.S. 11 departs U.S. 90 (Chef Menteur Highway) on its ten-state journey northward to Canada at Rouses Point, New York. While much of the route shadows an Interstate highway, portions of the route still play a pivotal role, such as the bridge across Lake Pontchartrain, which was the first span to reopen following the aftermath of 2005's Hurricane Katrina. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
| U.S. 90 (Chef Menteur Highway) continues as a four-lane highway from U.S. 11 to Venetian Isles. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
| Comparison shots of the new high-level Rigolets Bridge (under construction) versus the 1930-steel truss Fort Pike Bridge. Opened on January 15, 2008 at a cost of $50 million, the new bridge supports two 12' travel lanes with 8' shoulders in each direction. This is a major upgrade when compared to the original Ft. Pike Bridge with its 10' travel lanes and lack of shoulders. Additionally the new bridge's 72' clearance allows the largest of marine craft unimpeded passage on the Rigolets below, a change from the moveable Ft. Pike Bridge.
Work on the new Rigolets Bridge began in October 2004 at a projected cost of $20 million (1997 dollars). However the landfall of Hurricane Katrina delayed the project another eight months, adding to the construction costs in the process. The new bridge will increase U.S. 90's effectiveness as an evacuation route for future hurricanes.
Crews will demolish the original Fort Pike Bridge now that the new bridge is open to traffic. Concrete from the span will be used as a breakwater near Fort Pike. The bridge was the first toll free connection between New Orleans and Mississippi. Public Service Commission member Huey P. Long (who later became Louisiana Governor) spearheaded the drive to build the bridge.1 Photos taken 12/10/07. |
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| U.S. 90 eastbound at the beginning of the 1930-built Rigolets Bridge. This narrow passageway divides Lake Pontchartrain with Lake Borgne and the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Its defense was imperative during the War of 1812, as the waterway allowed passage to Lake Pontchartrain and the northern edge of the city of New Orleans. During the war, the British Fleet, which drastically outnumbered the American navy at New Orleans, considered passing through the Rigolets to enter Lake Pontchartrain for an attack on New Orleans from their base in Jamaica. However, a capture of five American gunboats on Lake Borgne in the first battle near New Orleans during December of 1814 threw a curve ball in General Andrew Jackson's plans of defense. This skirmish ultimately led the British Fleet to chose an approach to the city from the east by way of Lake Borgne and Bayou Bienvenu, which ultimately took them within a mile of the Mississippi River. The change in approach spared the city the full brunt of the navy, and weakened the overall assault by assault by the British. Photo taken 06/01. |
| U.S. 90 eastbound beyond the southern terminus intersection of Louisiana 433 (Rigolets Road) in Saint Tammany Parish. The highway retains two lanes of concrete from the Rigolets Bridge through to the Mississippi state line. Photo taken 06/01. |
| U.S. 90 nears the eastern terminus of U.S. 190 near an area known as White Kitchen in swampy St. Tammany Parish. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
| An older shield and guide sign assembly at the east end of U.S. 190 that was posted on U.S. 90 east. All signs for the intersection were destroyed during Hurricane Katrina. U.S. 190 travels west 7.7 miles to the city of Slidell and junction Interstate 10. The federal highway continues through to Exit 307 of Interstate 10 in west Texas. Photo taken 06/01. |
| Replacement signs for U.S. 90 east at the westbound beginning of U.S. 190. U.S. 190 meanders northwest 3.8 miles to junction U.S. 190 Business at Military Road. There U.S. 190 heads north to Louisiana 1090 and Gause Boulevard into the heart of Slidell. U.S. 190 Business (Fremaux Avenue) provides a direct connection to downtown Slidell (and soon to a new interchange with Interstate 10). Photo taken 12/10/07. |
Page Updated January 18, 2008.
