Huey P. Long Bridge

The Huey P. Long Bridge crosses the Mississippi River as a steel truss structure carrying two railway lines and three lanes of US Highway 90 in each direction. The design links the east bank near New Orleans with the west bank in Jefferson Parish across a span measuring several thousand feet.

Completion in December 1935 brought Louisiana its first crossing of the Mississippi River. For fifteen years the structure held the world record as the longest railroad span.

The name honors the Louisiana governor who championed the project before taking his seat in the Senate. Trains and vehicles share the space in a now uncommon arrangement, with rail tracks running between the roadway lanes.

The structure carries both rail and road traffic, with trains passing through occasionally and causing brief delays. A 2013 expansion brought wider lanes and shoulders for improved safety on US 90.

The foundations reach through soft soil down to fine sand at roughly 160 feet (50 meters) below Mean Gulf Level. The sheer mass of the piers provides stability in this challenging ground.

Location: Jefferson Parish

Inception: December 1935

Official opening: December 1935

GPS coordinates: 29.94420,-90.16890

Latest update: December 20, 2025 01:20