I-10 bridge opens in Louisiana

The I-10 Twin Span Bridge replacement, one of the largest public works projects in Louisiana history, opened Sept. 8.

Opening several months ahead of schedule, the $803 million Twin Span Bridge project marks a significant national milestone in the recovery of the Gulf Coast region after Hurricane Katrina.

Spanning more than five miles over Lake Pontchartrain, the new bridge is a critical part of the east-west link for New Orleans – particularly for the 8.6 million tons of commercial shipments traveling to and from the Port of New Orleans.

The Twin Span Bridge crosses Lake Pontchartrain on I-10 to link the cities of Slidell and New Orleans. The bridge was destroyed Aug. 29, 2005, by storm surge from Hurricane Katrina.

Two additional lanes on the new bridge will help relieve local traffic congestion and improve safety by providing a more reliable evacuation route. At the crest, the new bridge is 30 feet high – 21 feet taller than their predecessors, making the new bridge more resistant to storm surge.