8 Most Traveled Bridges in Louisiana In Desperately Poor Condition

According to America’s transportation experts, there are a lot of bridges in America that are in desperate need of repair. In Louisiana specifically, over 12% of all of the state’s bridges are considered “structurally deficient.” This reflects a nationwide need to invest in projects to maintain roads, bridges, and other infrastructure so that people can keep getting to where they need to go. This article focuses on bridges in Louisiana. Let’s start by covering what exactly “structurally deficient means.” From there, we will review the current state of bridges in Louisiana. After that, you can read a chart of eight bridges in Louisiana that are among the most high-traffic bridges that are considered structurally deficient.

What Does Structurally Deficient Mean?

The Technical Definitions of Structurally Deficient

Since January 1, 2018, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) changed the definition of structurally deficient. This change was part of the final rule on highway and bridge performance measures from May 2017, pursuant to the 2012 surface transportation law Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21).

Before, there were two measures used to classify bridges as structurally deficient. Since 2018, those measures are no longer used. The new definition of a structurally deficient bridge requires that there be a key structural element in poor or worse condition. Inspections look at bridge elements and rate them on a scale of 0 (failed condition) to 9 (excellent condition). A rating of 4 is “poor” condition.

The Normal Person’s Definition of Structurally Deficient

Now, with all of that technical information out of the way, what does “structurally deficient” mean for the average reader? Incredibly, nearly one out of 10 bridges in the United States is structurally deficient. That sounds alarming! What does it mean?

A structurally deficient bridge has significant structural or maintenance issues. This does not mean that they are a safety risk. It is very important to note that being “structurally deficient” does not mean the bridge is about to collapse. It does mean that the bridge is showing cracks or damage, or has other problems that could become worse and lead to failure sometime in the future if not addressed.

Usually, structurally deficient bridges do need to be repaired to fix their issues. Experts should inspect these bridges regularly to check for new or worsening issues that could lead to safety concerns.

Many deficient bridges have weight limits. Drivers can look for weight limits posted on signs to alert vehicles approaching the bridge. If your vehicle is under the limit, you should be safe to cross the bridge as usual.

The State of U.S. Infrastructure

Every four years, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) releases a Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. This report card assesses the condition of different parts of the country’s infrastructure in 17 different categories. It includes everything from roads and bridges to waterways.

Throughout the U.S., the country’s infrastructure is receiving poor grades. In 2017, the bridges got a collective C . According to the American Road and Transportation Builder’s Association (ARTBA), if all of the country’s structurally deficient bridges were placed end to end, they would create a roadway 1,300 miles long!

The State of Louisiana Infrastructure

About Louisiana

Louisiana is a southern state bordered by Mississippi to the east, Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. This state possesses rich cultural history, diverse people, and incredible food. It is also one of the flattest states in the country, with much of the state near the Gulf of Mexico sitting below sea level. Louisiana also has thousands of acres of swampland, especially around the Mississippi River. The Louisiana bayous, slow-moving waterways, mean that road travelers need to have access to lots of bridges.

Louisiana’s Infrastructure

When the first ASCE Report Card came out for Louisiana, there was a strong statement: Louisiana’s infrastructure needs immediate attention. The 2017 version updated the report card and gave the state a D . An expert team of over 50 civil engineers evaluated and studied 11 major components of Louisiana’s infrastructure for more than 18 months. Their results have been reviewed not only by independent experts locally but also analyzed by ASCE’s team of national experts. Today, there is little doubt that the infrastructure has degraded even further than before. This should be cause for alarm!

However, remember that describing Louisiana’s infrastructure this way does not mean you need to worry about being unsafe. Structurally deficient bridges need to be monitored and maintained in order to prevent future failure and safety issues. However, the D grade of Louisiana’s infrastructure is more reflective of the need for significant investment in building and improving the existing infrastructure for long-term safety and smooth travel.

Structurally Deficient Bridges in Louisiana

Of the 12,717 bridges in Louisiana, 12.1% are considered structurally deficient. This makes Louisiana sixth-highest in the country for structurally deficient bridges. This counts out to, 1,545 bridges that have one or more key elements in poor or worse condition. The state of Louisiana has identified needed repairs on 3,149 bridges, and in June 2023, the state had committed $79 million to 97 projects.

Table of Most Traveled Structurally Deficient Bridges in Louisiana

Now let’s talk about the eight bridges in Louisiana that are on the list of most-traveled structurally deficient bridges in the state. Check out how old some of these bridges are and look at the number of daily crossings! All of the bridges on this list see thousands upon thousands of travelers crossing them each day. That high number of travelers makes maintaining these bridges all the more important.

The data in the following table comes from the experts at the American Road and Transportation Builders Association. It originally came from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Bridge Inventory (NBI) on February 1, 2023. Please note that specific conditions on bridges may have changed because of recent work or updated inspections. See the eight bridges identified as the most high-traffic structurally deficient bridges in Louisiana below!

About the Calcasieu River Bridge

The first bridge on the list, the Calcasieu River Bridge, is one of the most famous bridges in Louisiana. This bridge is also known as the Louisiana Memorial World War II Bridge. This bridge crosses from Lake Charles, Louisiana to Westlake, Louisiana. Although it has been rated structurally deficient by the Department of Transportation, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) did declare it safe. However, at over 70 years old, this bridge is much older than the average bridge in the U.S. Because of that reason, and its known deficiencies, many believe it needs to be replaced. In fact, experts have proposed plans to replace the bridge for over 20 years now. Today, local leaders have at least four different bridge concepts on the table to consider for replacing the Calcasieu River Bridge.