The Calcasieu River Bridge in Louisiana Is One Of The Most Dangerous

Did you know there is a dangerous bridge in Louisiana that could be putting drivers at risk? The Calcasieu River Bridge in Louisiana is one of the most dangerous bridges in the entire state, but it does look like there's hope for a plan of attack for repairs. But first, let's take a closer look at the history of the most dangerous bridge in Louisiana near Lake Charles.

Why is the Calcasieu River Bridge dangerous?

The Calcasieu River Bridge in Southwest Louisiana was originally built in 1951, opening up to traffic in 1952. It brings I-10/US 90 west from Lake Charles into Westlake. In the 50s, it was the US 90 bridge alone, and was later grandfathered into an I-10 bridge.

When that process took place, the federal government promised to replace the bridge, since it was not designed originally to be an interstate bridge.

But this never happened.

Now, decades later, the bridge has been rated structurally deficient by the DOT and was awarded a rating of 24 out of 100.

Travel and Leisure put the bridge on the list of “America’s Most Dangerous Bridges,” coming in at number 7 with a sufficiency rating of 9.9% out of 100.

Rumors that this bridge is going to be replaced have circulated for years, and it looks like some progress is being made.

In late 2020, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced that it was given approval to get proposals and a contract to build and finance a new bridge. While there is still a lot of funding that needs to help offset the cost of the project, it’s a step in the right direction. If everything goes according to plan, a contract should be awarded in 2023.

Have you ever driven across this bridge?

Do you usually avoid this notorious Louisiana steep bridge or do you risk it? Despite, or maybe because of, the unsafe nature of bridges over time, Louisiana bridges are still a thing of beauty and expert engineering. If you’re interested in checking out more of the bridges we have in the area, check out our article about some very interesting bridges in Louisiana. If you're planning a road trip, be sure to check out our road trip essentials guide.

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