Innovative Ideas Modernize 78-year-old Bridge

摘要

The white-knuckle drive across the huey P. long bridge, which spans the mississippi river just north of New Orleans, has always been described as both insane and scary, a "rite of passage" for new drivers in the area. But the drive is changing for the better as a result of a bridge widening that provides a safer, easier commute for area residents and commercial traffic that will enhance the area's economy. When the bridge opened in 1935, it was the longest steel railroad bridge in the United States at 22,995 feet and is still ranked among the longest today. The ability to move people and goods across the Mississippi river by train and vehicle opened commerce routes between ports and cities that previously were only serviced by ferries or bridges located 200 miles away.