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This week in history: Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge Opens [1]

['Nigell Moses', 'More Nigell Moses', 'Verite News']

Date: 2023-09-01

The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway opened for traffic on Aug. 30, 1956.

The 24-mile bridge that stretches from Metairie to Mandeville, holds the record as the world’s longest continuous bridge over water.

The bridge was a pathway connecting the urban area of New Orleans to the then-rural north shore of Lake Pontchartrain.

The Greater New Orleans Expressway Commission, which operates the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, was formed in 1954. The commission is responsible for the operations of the bridge, including maintenance of the bridge structure and traffic management.

The American Society of Civil Engineers note that the causeway project was the first time “assembly-line mass production methods were utilized…in the construction of a bridge.”

The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge took 14 months to build and cost $46 million.

By 1969, the second span of the causeway was built. The twin span continues to hold the Guinness World Record for being the world’s longest continuous span over water.

In 2013, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge was recognized as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Engineers. Today more than 30,000 commuters travel across the causeway bridge.

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If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @VeriteNewsNola on Facebook @VeriteNewsNola on Twitter. If you have any other questions, contact managing editor Tim Morris. This week in history: Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge Opens <h1>This week in history: Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge Opens</h1> by Nigell Moses, Verite News September 1, 2023 The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway opened for traffic on Aug. 30, 1956. The <a href="https://thecauseway.us">24-mile bridge</a> that stretches from Metairie to Mandeville, holds the record as the <a href="http://livescience.com/34448-worlds-longest-bridge.html#:~:text=This%20database%20documents%20the%20total,feet%20(1%2C900%2C000%20square%20meters).&text=The%20world's%20longest%20continuous%20bridge%20over%20water%20is,Pontchartrain%20Causeway%20in%20southern%20Louisiana">world’s longest continuous bridge over water</a>. The bridge was a pathway connecting the urban area of New Orleans to the then-rural north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. The <a href="https://thecauseway.us/causeway-commission/">Greater New Orleans Expressway Commission</a>, which operates the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, was formed in 1954. The commission is responsible for the operations of the bridge, including maintenance of the bridge structure and traffic management. The American Society of Civil Engineers note that <a href="https://www.asce.org/about-civil-engineering/history-and-heritage/historic-landmarks/lake-pontchartrain-causeway-bridge#:~:text=In%20building%20the%20Lake%20Pontchartrain,1950s%2C%20New%20Orleans%20experienced%20growth">the causeway project</a> was the first time “assembly-line mass production methods were utilized…in the construction of a bridge.” The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge took <a href="https://www.asce.org/about-civil-engineering/history-and-heritage/historic-landmarks/lake-pontchartrain-causeway-bridge#:~:text=In%20building%20the%20Lake%20Pontchartrain,1950s%2C%20New%20Orleans%20experienced%20growth">14 months to build</a> and cost <a href="https://www.nola.com/news/traffic/10-things-to-know-about-the-lake-pontchartrain-causeway/article_d2fe86a8-4247-5a3d-844b-7050c6b658bc.html#:~:text=The%20original%20bridge%20(today%27s%20southbound,a%20cost%20of%20%2430%20million.">$46 million</a>. By 1969, the second span of the causeway was built. The twin span continues to hold the <a href="https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/97851-longest-bridge-over-water-continuous">Guinness World Record</a> for being the world’s longest continuous span over water. In 2013, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge was recognized as a <a href="https://www.nola.com/news/traffic/lake-pontchartrain-causeway-named-national-historic-civil-engineering-landmark/article_764468f1-206a-5180-a3ca-2182375ba12c.html">National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark</a> by the American Society of Engineers. Today more than <a href="http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/dotdaz/definition.aspx?termID=278">30,000 commuters</a> travel across the causeway bridge. This <a target="_blank" href="https://veritenews.org/2023/09/01/lake-pontchartrain-causeway-opens/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://veritenews.org">Verite News</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://i0.wp.com/veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/cropped-Verite-icon.png?fit=150%2C150&ssl=1" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;"><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://veritenews.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=8995&ga3=319934958" style="width:1px;height:1px;"> Copy to Clipboard

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