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Coordinates: 30°30′25″N 91°11′51″W / 30.50694°N 91.19750°W / 30.50694; -91.19750
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{{Hatnote|This article is about a bridge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; a second [[Huey P. Long Bridge (Jefferson Parish)|Huey P. Long Bridge]] is in Jefferson Parish.}}
{{Hatnote|This article is about a bridge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; an earlier [[Huey P. Long Bridge (Jefferson Parish)|Huey P. Long Bridge]] is in Jefferson Parish.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox bridge
{{Infobox bridge
|bridge_name= Huey P. Long Bridge
|bridge_name= Huey P. Long Bridge
|image= Huey P Long Bridge Baton Rouge northwest 1.jpg
|image= Huey P. Long Bridge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (USA), on 14 December 2021.jpg
|image_size=300px
|image_size=300px
|caption= Huey P. Long Bridge from the northwest
|caption= Huey P. Long Bridge from the southwest
|official_name= Huey P. Long - O.K. Allen Bridge
|official_name= Huey P. Long - O.K. Allen Bridge
|also_known_as= Old Bridge
|also_known_as= Old Bridge
|carries= 4 lanes of {{jct|state=LA|US|190}}<br />1 [[Kansas City Southern Railway|Kansas City Southern]] rail line
|carries= 4 lanes of {{jct|state=LA|US|190}}<br />1 [[Canadian Pacific Kansas City]] rail line
|crosses= [[Mississippi River]]
|crosses= [[Mississippi River]]
|locale= [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana]]
|locale= [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana]]
|maint= [[Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development]]{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}
|maint= [[Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.modjeski.com/projects/truss/huey-p-long-bridge-widening | title=Huey P. Long Bridge Widening }}</ref>
|id= 611700071000001
|id= 611700071000001
|design= [[Cantilever bridge|Cantilever]] [[truss bridge]]
|design= [[Cantilever bridge|Cantilever]] [[truss bridge]]
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|closed=
|closed=
|toll=
|toll=
|map_cue=
| map_type = Louisiana
| map_relief = yes
|coordinates = {{coord|30|30|25|N|91|11|51|W|display=inline,title}}
|coordinates = {{coord|30|30|25|N|91|11|51|W|display=inline,title}}
}}
}}
The '''Huey P. Long - O.K. Allen Bridge''' is a [[truss]] [[cantilever bridge]] over the [[Mississippi River]] carrying [[US 190]] ([[Airline Highway]]) and one [[Rail transport|rail]] line between [[East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana]] and [[West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana]].
The '''Huey P. Long - O.K. Allen Bridge''' (locally known as the '''Old Bridge''') is a [[truss]] [[cantilever bridge]] over the [[Mississippi River]] carrying [[US 190]] ([[Airline Highway]]) and one [[Rail transport|rail]] line between [[East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana]] and [[West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana]].


Although the bridge is named after former Louisiana governors [[Huey P. Long]] and [[Oscar K. Allen]], it is known locally in the Baton Rouge Area as "the old bridge".<ref name=whatis>"Paint Party". The Riverside Reader. [Port Allen, LA] October 1, 2012. Pg. 1. Print</ref>
Although the bridge is named after former Louisiana governors [[Huey P. Long]] and [[Oscar K. Allen]], it is known locally in the Baton Rouge Area as "the old bridge".<ref name=whatis>"Paint Party". The Riverside Reader. [Port Allen, LA] October 1, 2012. Pg. 1. Print</ref>


It was the only bridge across the Mississippi in Baton Rouge from its opening until April 1968, when the [[Horace Wilkinson Bridge]] ("the new bridge") carrying [[Interstate 10 in Louisiana|Interstate 10]] opened. Until 2011, when the [[John James Audubon Bridge (Mississippi River)|John James Audubon Bridge]] opened between [[St. Francisville, Louisiana|St. Francisville]] and [[New Roads, Louisiana|New Roads]], it was the last bridge crossing the Mississippi before the [[Natchez-Vidalia Bridge]], almost 100 miles to the north.
It was the only bridge across the Mississippi in Baton Rouge from its opening until April 1968, when the [[Horace Wilkinson Bridge]] ("the new bridge") carrying [[Interstate 10 in Louisiana|Interstate 10]] opened. Until 2011, when the [[John James Audubon Bridge (Mississippi River)|John James Audubon Bridge]] opened between [[St. Francisville, Louisiana|St. Francisville]] and [[New Roads, Louisiana|New Roads]], it was the last bridge crossing the Mississippi before the [[Natchez-Vidalia Bridge]], almost 100 miles to the north.


==Design==
==Design==
Line 42: Line 39:


==State of repair==
==State of repair==
[[File:Huey P Long Bridge Baton Rouge northwest 1.jpg|thumb|220px|right|The bridge in 2006, viewed from the northwest. Here, the bridge still bears its 1960s orange paint.]]
The bridge itself is currently in a poor state of repair; the girder foundations on both railroad approach spans are beginning to show hairline cracks, but engineers have assured the city that the bridge is not in any imminent danger.<ref name=whatis/> The bridge has been repainted several times since its construction, including in the mid-1960s when the bridge was repainted orange.
The bridge itself is currently in a poor state of repair; the girder foundations on both railroad approach spans are beginning to show hairline cracks, but engineers have assured the city that the bridge is not in any imminent danger.<ref name=whatis/>


The bridge was originally painted blue, but dust from the [[Kaiser Aluminum]] plant on the southeast bank of the river kept coating the bridge with aluminum oxide ([[bauxite]]). Finally, the state gave up trying to keep the bridge blue, and went with the orange color of the dust.<ref>[http://southeastroads.com/us-190_la.html AA Roads - US Highway 190 Mississippi River Bridge] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609145019/http://www.southeastroads.com/us-190_la.html |date=June 9, 2007 }}</ref>
The bridge has been repainted several times since its construction, including in the mid-1960s when the bridge was repainted orange; this was done to match the color of dust being emitted by the [[Kaiser Aluminum]] plant on the southeast bank of the river, which continually coated the bridge with aluminum oxide ([[bauxite]]) dust.<ref>[http://southeastroads.com/us-190_la.html AA Roads - US Highway 190 Mississippi River Bridge] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609145019/http://www.southeastroads.com/us-190_la.html |date=June 9, 2007 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.johnweeks.com/lower_mississippi/pages/lmiss11.html John Weeks.com - Huey P. Long Bridge]</ref> It was widened in 1989, and again repainted between 2014 and 2016 to its original color of light gray.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ask The Advocate: Questions about the U.S. 190 bridge |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_05e493ac-58a4-57bc-8b25-c0620d8f56bb.html |website=The Advocate |date=July 6, 2015 |access-date=1 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Historic Bridge Management Plan for the Old Mississippi River (Huey P. Long) Bridge |url=http://www.dotd.la.gov/Inside_LaDOTD/Divisions/Engineering/HBI/Documents1/Management%20Plans%20for%20Historic%20Bridges/Individual%20Managment%20Plans%20for%20Preservation%20Priority%20Bridges/Group%202%20Management%20Plans/Mississippi%20River%20(Huey%20P.%20Long)%20Bridge%20160802A_051880.pdf |publisher=Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development |access-date=1 January 2022}}</ref>
<ref>[http://www.johnweeks.com/lower_mississippi/pages/lmiss11.html John Weeks.com - Huey P. Long Bridge]</ref>


==Planned Interstate 410==
==Planned Interstate 410==
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|place = [[Mississippi River]]
|place = [[Mississippi River]]
|bridge = Huey P. Long Bridge
|bridge = Huey P. Long Bridge
|bridge signs = [[Image:US 190.svg|35px]]<br />''Kansas City Southern Railway''
|bridge signs = [[Image:US 190.svg|35px]]<br />''Canadian Pacific Kansas City''
|upstream = [[John James Audubon Bridge (Mississippi River)|John James Audubon Bridge]]
|upstream = [[John James Audubon Bridge (Mississippi River)|John James Audubon Bridge]]
|upstream signs = [[Image:Louisiana 10.svg|30px]]
|upstream signs = [[Image:Louisiana 10.svg|30px]]
Line 84: Line 81:
[[Category:Road bridges in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Road bridges in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Railroad bridges in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Railroad bridges in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Bridges on the United States Numbered Highways]]
[[Category:Bridges of the United States Numbered Highway System]]
[[Category:Great River Road]]
[[Category:Great River Road]]
[[Category:Huey Long]]
[[Category:Cantilever bridges in the United States]]
[[Category:Cantilever bridges in the United States]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Transportation in West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Transportation in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana]]
[[Category:1940 establishments in Louisiana]]

Latest revision as of 04:27, 26 November 2024

This article is about a bridge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; an earlier Huey P. Long Bridge is in Jefferson Parish.

Huey P. Long Bridge
Huey P. Long Bridge from the southwest
Coordinates30°30′25″N 91°11′51″W / 30.50694°N 91.19750°W / 30.50694; -91.19750
Carries4 lanes of US 190
1 Canadian Pacific Kansas City rail line
CrossesMississippi River
LocaleBaton Rouge, Louisiana
Official nameHuey P. Long - O.K. Allen Bridge
Other name(s)Old Bridge
Maintained byLouisiana Department of Transportation and Development[1]
ID number611700071000001
Characteristics
DesignCantilever truss bridge
Total length5,879 feet (1,792 m)
Clearance below113 feet (34 m)
History
Construction cost$8.4 million[2]
OpenedAugust 1940
Statistics
Daily traffic17,300
Location
Map

The Huey P. Long - O.K. Allen Bridge (locally known as the Old Bridge) is a truss cantilever bridge over the Mississippi River carrying US 190 (Airline Highway) and one rail line between East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana and West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.

Although the bridge is named after former Louisiana governors Huey P. Long and Oscar K. Allen, it is known locally in the Baton Rouge Area as "the old bridge".[3]

It was the only bridge across the Mississippi in Baton Rouge from its opening until April 1968, when the Horace Wilkinson Bridge ("the new bridge") carrying Interstate 10 opened. Until 2011, when the John James Audubon Bridge opened between St. Francisville and New Roads, it was the last bridge crossing the Mississippi before the Natchez-Vidalia Bridge, almost 100 miles to the north.

Design

[edit]
The entrance to the Kaiser Aluminum plant under the bridge in 1972

The bridge is similar in design to the Huey P. Long Bridge in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana (until the downstream bridge was widened to six lanes in 2013). Its lanes are narrow and during cold weather, it has a tendency to ice over.

Due to the low height of the bridge, Baton Rouge is the furthest inland port on the Mississippi River that can accommodate ocean-going tankers and cargo carriers. The ships transfer their cargo (grain, oil, cars, containers) at Baton Rouge onto rails and pipelines (to travel east–west) or barges (to travel north). In addition, the river depth decreases significantly just to the north, near Port Hudson.[4]

State of repair

[edit]
The bridge in 2006, viewed from the northwest. Here, the bridge still bears its 1960s orange paint.

The bridge itself is currently in a poor state of repair; the girder foundations on both railroad approach spans are beginning to show hairline cracks, but engineers have assured the city that the bridge is not in any imminent danger.[3]

The bridge has been repainted several times since its construction, including in the mid-1960s when the bridge was repainted orange; this was done to match the color of dust being emitted by the Kaiser Aluminum plant on the southeast bank of the river, which continually coated the bridge with aluminum oxide (bauxite) dust.[5][6] It was widened in 1989, and again repainted between 2014 and 2016 to its original color of light gray.[7][8]

Planned Interstate 410

[edit]

The bridge was once planned as part of an Interstate 410.

Accidents

[edit]

Only one person is reported to have driven off the edge of the bridge. In 1945, a cargo truck driver headed eastbound careened off the sides. The driver fell through the windshield and was crushed on a dock as his truck landed on top of him.[3] The scars from the accident can still be seen on the dock to one's right approaching the east end of the eastbound span.

[edit]

The bridge is featured in a scene in the 1982 Richard Pryor film, The Toy.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Huey P. Long Bridge Widening".
  2. ^ Will Sentel (December 3, 2013), Old bridge getting new look, The Advocate, archived from the original on August 10, 2014, retrieved August 7, 2014
  3. ^ a b c "Paint Party". The Riverside Reader. [Port Allen, LA] October 1, 2012. Pg. 1. Print
  4. ^ "Port of Greater Baton Rouge". Archived from the original on June 14, 2006. Retrieved April 26, 2008.
  5. ^ AA Roads - US Highway 190 Mississippi River Bridge Archived June 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ John Weeks.com - Huey P. Long Bridge
  7. ^ "Ask The Advocate: Questions about the U.S. 190 bridge". The Advocate. July 6, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  8. ^ "Historic Bridge Management Plan for the Old Mississippi River (Huey P. Long) Bridge" (PDF). Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
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