Chef Menteur Bridge

Chef Menteur Bridge is a road and swing bridge spanning about 1,200 feet across Chef Menteur Pass, connecting New Orleans with Slidell via U.S. Route 90. It features a rotating central section that opens to allow boats and ships to pass through the waterway.

Construction of the bridge was completed in 1929, establishing a vital transportation link across Chef Menteur Pass. This project connected isolated eastern communities to New Orleans and southern regions, transforming regional travel and commerce.

The name comes from French words meaning 'Lying Chief,' a reference to the area's past with Native American groups and French settlers. This name has stayed with the place through generations, marking the region's cultural roots.

The bridge carries thousands of vehicles daily while allowing marine traffic to pass through its rotating central section. Keep in mind that openings for boat passage can cause temporary delays for road traffic during certain times.

The bridge's central span rotates horizontally to create an opening for passing vessels, a rare engineering feature from the early 1900s that remains fully operational. Few modern travelers realize they are crossing a working example of early 20th-century mechanical bridge technology.