Almonaster Avenue Bridge, bascule road and railway bridge in New Orleans, Louisiana, US

Almonaster Avenue Bridge is a bascule bridge crossing the Industrial Canal that carries both vehicle traffic and railroad lines. The structure connects two neighborhoods while handling the dual demands of road and rail transportation.

The bridge was built in 1919 as one of the first four structures constructed by the Port of New Orleans across the Industrial Canal. It marked an early effort to improve railroad connections in the area.

The bridge carried Old Gentilly Road, part of the Old Spanish Trail and then the only vehicular route east out of New Orleans; U.S. Route 90 ran over it from 1926 until 1932, when the original Danziger Bridge opened on the Chef Menteur Highway.

The bridge typically stays in the raised position and only lowers for rail traffic, which affects vehicle crossing patterns. Visitors should understand that this operational mode has been the standard since Hurricane Katrina.

The bridge's 83-foot horizontal clearance is measured between its fenders, and when the bascule leaf is fully raised the vertical clearance becomes unlimited. The span carries two road lanes and a single railroad track down its centre.