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U.S. Highway 90 Louisiana - Westbound
| U.S. 90 Westbound |
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U.S. 90 enters the state of Louisiana over the east banks of the Pearl River near Pearlington, Mississippi. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
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| A two-lane truss swing bridge carries U.S. 90 across the Pearl River into St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. The bridge was built in 1926, though U.S. 90 would not utilize the Pearl River crossing until June 21, 1937, when Louisiana requested an alignment change with AASHO to relocate U.S. 90 from its alignment across the Watson-Williams Bridge (which became apart of U.S. 11 on June 28, 1939) into Slidell to the alignment east across Chef Menteur Pass, the 1930-built Ft. Pike Bridge, and the Pearl River into Mississippi.2 Photo taken 12/10/07. |
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U.S. 90 leaves the Pearl River and travels a series of causeways and bridges to Fort Pike. Fort Pike was built between 1819 and 1826 near the Rigolets, the waterway between Lakes Borgne and Pontchartrain, and named after General Zebulon Montgomery Pike. Construction of the fort followed the War of 1812 by the order of President James Monroe to better fortify the United States coastal areas. The installation was used as a staging area for troop movement during the Seminole Wars (1830s) and the Mexican War (1840s). Fort Pike would play a greater role during the Civil War (1861), first in the hands of the Louisiana militia and then as a Union-controlled base for operations and training. Beyond the Civil War, the fort remained in military hands until its closing in 1890. In 1972 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Unfortunately the Fort Pike State Historic Site has yet to reopen following the August 29, 2005 landfall of Hurricane Katrina. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
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The first of three pony truss bridges along U.S. 90 carries drivers over the East Middle River onto Desert Island. Photos taken 12/10/07. |
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U.S. 90 spans the Middle River between Desert Island and Deer Island on the second pony truss bridge. Photos taken 12/10/07. |
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Spanning the West Middle River onto Honey Island on the third pony truss bridge of U.S. 90 westbound. Photos taken 12/10/07. |
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The West Pearl River Bridge dominates the western horizon from Deer Island westward across Honey Island. U.S. 90 enters the settlement of Deer Island at the span. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
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| U.S. 90 spans the West Pearl River over a two-lane lift bridge. Photos taken 12/10/07. |
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A short distance west of the West Pearl River is the eastern terminus of U.S. 190 at White Kitchen. U.S. 190 begins and travels 7.7 miles west to junction Interstate 10 in Slidell. Connections with U.S. 190 Business (Shortcut Highway) provide a direct route to downtown while U.S. 190 constitutes a commercial arterial to the north. A wayside park and welcome pavilion used to reside on the northeast corner of junction U.S. 90 & 190, however Hurricane Katrina destroyed the facility. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
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U.S. 90 westbound reassurance marker, the first in four miles, posted as the road curves southward toward the Rigolets and Orleans Parish. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
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Continuing southwest, U.S. 90 travels across Prevost Island toward the Rigolets and junction Louisiana 433. Construction visible at the time of this photograph shifts the two-lane roadway onto a temporary alignment to match the 1930-constructed Fort Pike Bridge. Paralleling to the north is the new fixed high-level bridge for U.S. 90. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
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The original Old Spanish Trail/Louisiana 433 ties into U.S. 90 just east of the Rigolets Bridge at Snug Harbor. This highway travels northwestward 6.4 miles to Interstate 10 and the city of Slidell. Treasure Island lies along the Rigolets Avenue. Much of the area near Interstate 10 is under development in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Photos taken 12/10/07. |
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Pre and post Katrina and construction views of U.S. 90 westbound at the "Y" intersection with Louisiana 433. Photos taken 06/26/01 & 12/10/07. |
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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.2
The Rigolets marks the eastern edge of the city limits of New Orleans. Planned in 1927 and opened to traffic on June 9, 1930, the Rigolets Bridge in conjunction with the September 1929 opened Chef Menteur Bridge provided a free route between the city of New Orleans and Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi. Plans for a crossing here first arose as early as 1918. Photos taken 06/26/01 & 12/10/07. |
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Crossing the narrow Fort Pike Bridge over the Rigolets on U.S. 90. The span derived its name from nearby Fort Pike, a historic site along the peninsula between Lake Pontchartrain, The Rigolets, and Sawmill Pass. Crews will demolish this span now that the new bridge is open to traffic. Concrete from the span will be used as a breakwater to protect the nearby fort.2
Note the narrowness of the lanes and antiquated guard rail. Passing was not allowed and speed limits were posted only at 25 MPH. This bridge could be seen in the distance from the Interstate 10 twin spans over Lake Pontchartrain that is several miles to the west. Photos taken 06/26/01 & 12/10/07. |
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U.S. 90 travels a narrow strip of land between Lake Pontchartrain and Lake St. Catherine from Fort Pike southward to Green's Ditch. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
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Westbound approach to the Chef Menteur Pass truss bridge on U.S. 90. The four head twin traffic signals are typical on all U.S. 90 bridges in eastern Louisiana. Photo taken 06/26/01. |
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Like the Pearl River Bridge, the Chef Menteur Bridge is movable to allow sea traffic passage between Lakes Pontchartrain and Borgne. The original approach guard rails were replaced on the narrow two-lane span with a jersey barrier since 2001. Photos taken 12/10/07. |
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U.S. 90 (Chef Menteur Highway) widens to four lanes west of the Chef Menteur Bridge through the community of Venetian Isles. Bayou Sauvage and the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge encompass the lands along the north side. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
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An unusual all-text junction sign lies one half mile east of the U.S. 90 (Chef Menteur Highway) intersection with U.S. 11 at Powers Junction. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
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A more conventional shield assembly resides just ahead of U.S. 11. U.S. 11 travels a swampy route northward 5.4 miles to Interstate 10 (Exit 254) at Irish Bayou. Beyond the freeway is the five-mile bridge across Lake Pontchartrain into Slidell. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
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Situated within the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge is the southern terminus of U.S. 11. This highway, which follows Interstate 59 northward to the Appalachian Mountains, can be traced all the way to the Canadian Border at Rouses Point, New York. These photographs look at westbound U.S. 90 at the flashers associated with the endpoint, showing post-Katrina replacement signage.
Originally U.S. 11 overlapped with U.S. 90 into downtown New Orleans. This routing was maintained for continuity purposes for traffic heading to Hattiesburg, Meridian, and Birmingham. Photos taken 11/06/99 & 12/10/07. |
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U.S. 90 (Chef Menteur Highway) curves southward towards Village De L'Est. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
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The first traffic light along U.S. 90 westbound governs the intersection with Industrial Parkway near the Michoud industrial center. Industrial Parkway leads southward to industrial plants on Intracoastal Drive along Michoud Canal and the Intracoastal. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
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U.S. 90 (Chef Menteur Highway) widens to include a grassy median through the Village De L'est and New Orleans east areas. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
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Old Gentilly Road splits to the south from U.S. 90 (Chef Menteur Highway) west near the abandoned Gateway Terrace Apartments. Alcee Fortier Boulevard stems north at the next signalized intersection to Dwyer Road at Village De L'est. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
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Michoud Boulevard crosses paths with U.S. 90 (Chef Menteur Highway) between Village De L'est and Old Gentilly Road at the Lockheed Martin Space Systems Michoud plant. Michoud Boulevard links U.S. 90 with the Villages of Oak Island and Exit 248 of Interstate 10. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
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West U.S. 90 next meets the Interstate 510 & Louisiana 47 freeway and its associated frontage road system. Interstate 510 & Louisiana 47 travel northward from the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge to junction Interstate 10 at Little Woods. The freeway replaced Paris Road (Louisiana 47), which still remains along the service roads of Interstate 510. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
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Drivers bound for Interstate 510 & Louisiana 47 south depart U.S. 90 (Chef Menteur Highway) west via a loop ramp. Louisiana 47 continues Paris Road south from the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge into St. Bernard Parish. Louisiana 47 ends in seven miles at Louisiana 46 (St. Bernard Highway) in Chalmette. U.S. 90 continues otherwise into the Katrina hard-hit areas of New Orleans East between Interstate 510 and Exit 240B of Interstate 10. Photo taken 12/10/07. |
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Westbound U.S. 90 approaching the Inner Harbor Navigational Canal lift bridge. The dump truck on the right is entering the Chef Menteur Highway from Jourdan Road. Photo taken 08/02/02. |
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France Road overhead on U.S. 90 westbound along the Inner Harbor Navigational Canal. Photo taken 08/02/02. |
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Cresting on the Inner Harbor Navigational Canal Bridge along U.S. 90 westbound. Known as the Danziger Bridge, the span carries seven lanes of traffic via a 108 foot wide and 320 foot long deck. Opened in 1991, it was at one point the widest lift bridge in the world. The $37.9 million bridge replaced a double-leaf bascule bridge.1 Photo taken 08/02/02. |
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Traffic for France Road exits before the end of the bridge at the Gentilly Woods neighborhood of New Orleans. Six lanes of U.S. 90 continue through the Gentilly Woods neighborhood of the city. Photo taken 08/02/02. |
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Gentilly Road (old U.S. 90) merges with the Chef Menteur Highway to form Gentilly Boulevard in this westbound photograph. To the right is Providence Place. The gothic style overpass in the background is for a railroad line. Photo taken 08/02/02. |
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Older U.S. 90 westbound reassurance shield posted past the intersection with Peoples Avenue in the Edgewood Park neighborhood of the city. Photo taken 08/02/02. |
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The northern terminus of Louisiana 3021 is situated at the intersection of Elysian Fields Avenue with U.S. 90/Gentilly Boulevard. Westbound U.S. 90 traffic heading towards Louisiana 3021/Elysian Fields Avenue southbound must turn right to access the state highway (left-hand turns are banned). Photo taken 08/02/02. |
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Text overhead on U.S. 90 westbound in anticipation of the southward turn from Gentilly Boulevard onto New Orleans Avenue. The overhead displays Broad Street, the route U.S. 90 follows towards downtown New Orleans from Interstate 610 southwestward. Photo taken 08/02/02. |
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U.S. 90 westbound turns onto New Orleans Street from Gentilly Boulevard at this intersection. Four blocks to the south, U.S. 90 resumes a westwardly direction along Broad Street. Photo taken 08/02/02. |
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U.S. 61 and 90 shields on South Broad Avenue westbound. The U.S. 90 sign is a bit misleading, as the route turns left onto Tulane Avenue toward downtown. U.S. 90 originally turned down Canal Street to the east, but was relocated sometime in the 1960s to Tulane Avenue. The Broad Avenue/Canal Street intersection therefore is the original terminus for U.S. 61. Now U.S. 61 northbound begins via Tulane Avenue from the intersection of Broad Avenue (U.S. 90). Photo taken 11/06/99. |
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The intersection of Claiborne Avenue westbound at Gravier Street near downtown New Orleans. U.S. 90 travels underneath the Interstate 10 viaduct via Claiborne between Tulane Avenue and Poydras Street. The stack interchange between Interstate 10 and the Pontchartrain Expressway (U.S. 90 Business) occurs above and ahead. U.S. 90 sees a direct ramp to its Business counterpart in two blocks. A ramp to Poydras Street departs to the right. The New Orleans Superdome, home of the NFL New Orleans Saints, resides southwest of the Poydras Street and Claiborne Avenue intersection.
Photo taken 10/22/03. |
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| The Huey P. Long Bridge composes a combination cantilever bridge over the Mississippi River between the communities of Jefferson and Bridge City. The bridge carries four lanes of traffic and a set of double track of railroad. The tight lanes of the bridge do not allow for truck passing and speed limits are set at only 45 MPH. The Huey P. Long Bridge opened December 16, 1935. Photo taken 08/02/02. |
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A proclamation sign of the Huey P. Long Bridge is in place at the westbound end. As U.S. 90 returns to ground level it immediately intersects Louisiana 18 (Bridge City Avenue). Louisiana 18 represents the original alignments of both U.S. 90 & Louisiana 2. The state highway travels eastward to Westwego and Marrero along the periphery of the Mississippi River. Photo taken 08/02/02. |
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The westbound lanes of U.S. 90 turn underneath the railroad trestle of the Huey P. Long Bridge to reunite with the eastbound lanes. Here Louisiana 18 (Bridge City Avenue) intersects U.S. 90. The state highway westbound overlaps with U.S. 90 for one mile to the intersection of River Road. The two highways intersect via a traffic circle. Photos taken 08/02/02. |
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U.S. 90/Louisiana 18 westbound, leaving the Huey P. Long Bridge vicinity. The shield to the right is not quite accurate, as Louisiana 18 is actually routed along U.S. 90. Photo taken 08/02/02. |
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A jug handle now handles traffic from U.S. 90 westbound onto the Westbank Expressway. This shield assembly and guide sign direct traffic wishing to head east to Gretna and New Orleans. The intersection replaces a partial cloverleaf interchange. Photo taken 08/02/02. |
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Louisiana 662 interchange on westbound near the town of Gibson. The guide sign displays no control city and only a to Louisiana 182 shield. That is because Louisiana 662 begins at Louisiana 182 just to the south, and loops northward through vastly undeveloped swampland before returning to Louisiana 182 at the village of Boeuf. Photo taken 11/12/99. |
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Westbound on U.S. 90 with a future overhead sign installation in place. All along U.S. 90 at the time of these photographs, signage was substandard, and in the process of being upgraded. This signing project will see the inclusion of exit numbers with signs complying to full Interstate standards upon the extension of Interstate 49. Photo taken between Amelia and Gibson. Photo taken 11/12/99. |
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U.S. 90 westbound advance guide signage for the Louisiana 662/Boeuf interchange. Louisiana 662 intersects U.S. 90 twice within three miles, as the highway loops to the north from Louisiana 182. The Amelia interchange is across the Intracoastal Waterway within one mile of the upcoming Boeuf exit. Photo taken 11/12/99. |
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Much of U.S. 90 between Morgan City and the Houma vicinity is elevated on viaducts due to the soupy nature of the ground. This photograph shows the viaduct westbound at the Amelia interchange, just across an Intracoastal Waterway crossing. This is the only interchange in Assumption Parish along U.S. 90. Photo taken 11/12/99. |
Sources:
- "Major Bridges of Louisiana." Preconstruction Pages (LADOTD), Volume 2,1.
- "U.S. 11 Rouses Point, New York, to New Orleans, Louisiana." Federal Highway Administration.
Page Updated January 18, 2008.
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