Norfolk Southern Lake Pontchartrain Bridge, Railway bridge over Lake Pontchartrain, New Orleans, United States
The Norfolk Southern Lake Pontchartrain Bridge is a single-track railway bridge that crosses Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana, connecting the south shore near New Orleans to the north shore near Slidell. The bridge runs over open water and wetland areas for most of its length.
The bridge was built in 1884 by the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad, making it one of the earliest rail crossings over Lake Pontchartrain. Over time, it passed through several railroad companies before becoming part of the Norfolk Southern network.
The bridge is part of the main rail corridor linking New Orleans to the northeastern United States, and freight trains cross it daily. From the shores near Slidell, visitors can watch trains move slowly across the open water.
The bridge is not open to pedestrians or vehicles, so the best views come from the lake shores near Slidell or from aboard a train crossing it. Travelers on the passenger rail service between New Orleans and the northeast pass directly over the water.
After Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, the bridge suffered serious damage and had to be repaired quickly to restore freight movement across the lake. This made it one of the few rail structures in the region to be fully returned to service after such a storm.
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