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To register for The Great Huey P. Long Bridge Run click here!
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When it was opened in 1935, the Huey P. Long Bridge was a remarkable achievement. It was the first Mississippi River crossing for both railroad cars and automobiles in New Orleans. At the time, it was the longest railroad bridge in the world. For a great five-minute video that tells the story of the bridge click here.
In 2006, shortly after Hurricane Katrina, the State of Louisiana embarked on an ambitious project to widen the bridge. The $1.2 billion project stands as a symbol of resilience of this great city’s people and their determination to move forward. The Huey P. Long Bridge Widening project is now in its final phase of construction and is less than one year away from completion.
On April 29, 2012, traffic was switched from the old lanes on the Huey P. Long Bridge to two new lanes in each direction. The switch was done so that the old lanes could be removed and the new ones widened to three eleven foot lanes in each direction with shoulders. The driving surface on the bridge will more than double in width from 18 feet to 43 feet wide when the project is completed.
On February 5, 2013, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Sherri LeBas announced that the bridge would be fully open to drivers on June 16, 2013!
Project Overview
Phase I: Main Support Widening (piers) - began April 2006, completed end of May 2009.
Phase II: Railroad Modifications - began October 2006, completed June 2008
Phase III: Main Bridge Widening (truss) - began early 2008 completed July 2012
Phase IV: New Approaches Construction - began June 2008 |
