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History |
Florida Avenue Bridge
Located in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, the existing Florida Avenue Bridge is a vertical lift bridge spanning the Industrial Canal. The bridge has one railroad track, two vehicle lanes and two sidewalks.
The Florida Avenue Bridge is named after Florida Avenue, formerly the Florida Walk along side the Florida Canal. When the Industrial Canal was built in the early 1920's, Florida Avenue was one of the first three roadways that provided bridge access across the canal. The original structure was a truss-bascule bridge and has been replaced with a new lift bridge that has 300 feet horizontal clearance and 156 feet vertical in the up position. The lift bridge is owned and operated by the Port of New Orleans.
Inner Harbor Navigational Canal
The Inner Harbor Navigational Canal (IHNC) is a waterway that connects the Mississippi River to Lake Pontchartrain. Local commercial mariners and landside residents commonly refer to the waterway as the "Industrial Canal." The canal passes through the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, LA.
The Louisiana State Government authorized the City of New Orleans to build the IHNC in July of 1914. Buildings, homes and a century old convent along the riverfront were demolished to make room for the canal. Also, land was expropriated along the downriver portion of the city.
On May 5, 1923, the opening dedication ceremony was held. Louisiana Governor John M. Parker presided over the event. The total cost for the canal construction was $19 million.
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