Surprised that I have not reviewed this bridge with all of the trips that I've made from Houston to New Orleans and then back to Houston. Not as impressive as many of the other bridges in Louisiana, but think about how people would have travelled in the early 1900s with mosquitoes carrying Yellow Fever, no interstate highways, no air conditioning and limited bridges. The challenges were real. In fact, in 1900 the U.S. Army research corps proved that mosquitoes carried and transmitted Yellow Fever. Many people dismissed medical science. That distrust led to a massive outbreak of Yellow Fever in 1905 in New Orleans. Over 3,000 people were infected. About 450 people died. Public health to the rescue. Using simple methods to decrease breeding grounds and spraying for mosquitoes, that was the last outbreak in North America. Amazing. (There is a vaccine available if you travel to an area where Yellow Fever is still endemic.) Gives you something to think about while traveling on the interstate in a nice air conditioned car towing a trailer from New Orleans to Houston. Even if the interstate seems to always be under construction, at least the bridges are there to cross another large body of water. read more

Jean Lafitte I-10 Bridge - View from the bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Lake Charles, Louisiana

We have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that this bridge is living history. It was built for US90 in 1952. It has all the features of highways and bridges of that era: slightly narrow lanes, no place to pull over, room to walk, slightly steep going up and down, handsome arch at the highest point. It has character that the I-210 bridge does not have, especially with the pistols on the fences. The bad news is that this bridge is likely the most functionally and structurally obsolete bridge between Jacksonville and Santa Monica. It was incorporated into I-10, but was not at Interstate Freeway standards. Now cars are faster, trucks are heavier, and traffic in Lake Charles has increased. There are likely people in Lake Charles and Westlake who avoid driving on this bridge, it can be scary. I wasn't scared, I enjoyed the drive in both directions, but I understand if people are scared on this bridge. I read that Louisiana is making plans to build a new bridge ASAP. I'd hate to lose a piece of transportation history, but some things have to be done. read more

Very high bridge that was just a little bit scary. I've been over taller bridges but the low railing at the side might be adding to the fright factor. Officially the Louisiana Memorial World War II bridge it is a through truss bright that carries I-10 between Lake Charles and Westlake, Louisiana and over the Calcasieu River. The bridge has a vertical clearance of 135 feet and was opened in 1952. The bridge predates the Interstate Highway System and is rated as "functionally obsolete". It has had some structural deficiency reports and therefore the top speed on the bridge has been lowered to 50 mph. It was reported as "dangerous" and the 7th in the United States that is in need of replacing. That said, I crossed the bridge successfully though I think I would detour next time. [Review 17370 overall - 81 in Louisiana - 888 of 2022.] read more

See all

This is the bridge that takes you right into Lake Charles, Louisiana on the Interstate 10 freeway. I've drove from Houston to Lake Charles plenty of times way back when, this bridge always lets me know when I've arrived. There are 2 of these bridges here, this is the straight one, the other one has a big curve. You can't walk across this bridge, vehicles only, and it's been here a long time, they obviously built this to last!! read more

See all

Calcasieu River Bridge! This bridge is apparently named after the local pirate, Jean Lafitte. You can see the tribute to him with the crossed musket motif that is repeated on the rails of the bridge. So this bridge is one of the highest structures around here in this part of Louisiana. I deduct a few stars from my review because this bridge has been labelled structurally insufficient or something to that effect, meaning that we're just sorta waiting for something to go wrong with it. I therefore try to cross it as quickly as I can. I haven't managed to catch air yet at the apex of the bridge, the lanes are too narrow. It's cool getting a view from the top of the bridge of the whole Lake Charles and getting to scope out the casinos. You get really high up there at the top of the bridge, and can see for quite a long ways off! read more

When traveling to New Orleans seeing the Jean Lafitte I-10 Bridge always makes me happy because it lets me know I have almost made it to my destination. This bridge is huge but when driving through traffic & on the bridge..no bueno!! I missed you Jean Lafitte I-10 Bridge!!! -Rebecca read more

I almost had a LaFitte when I realized this place does not have any reviews. This impressive bridge is the one you use to enter or exit the City of Lake Charles on the west side of town. It towers above the area and is visible for miles around. It's aesthetically nice and extremely useful, however it loses a star for having such thin lanes that a lot of people who aren't as good at driving as me can't handle it, and weave and swerve and potentially cause accidents. Still I am very glad it exists. read more

Another installment of fun facts for bridge fans: The name Jean Lafitte Bridge as an homage to the pirate of fame and legend is rumored to have been recorded on some early building plans but the US-90 bridge was officially christened the World War II Memorial Bridge (or some variant thereof) in 1952; the bridge later became the I-10 bridge. Pedestrian walkways on the bridge made it functionally obsolete as an interstate highway bridge from the start and for this and other reasons it needed replacing. The federal government promised to do that "shortly" It's now 67 years later and there's a proposal to install a six lane structure that would be "iconic" rather than pragmatic with a start date of sooner rather than later. It is also rumored to include pedestrian walkways. The current 6600-foot long cantilever bridge rises 135 feet above the waterway with a center span of 420 feet. The railings include 5,286 pairs of decorative crossed cast-iron pistols to recognize the local affinity for chicanery on the high seas and elsewhere. read more

Jean Lafitte I-10 Bridge - do not stop on the approach to take pictures - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Lake Charles, Louisiana

This is the Lake Charles I-10 Bridge (I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge), or simple the I-10 Bridge as refered to by the locals of Lake Charles, Lousiana. Growing up in Calcasieu Parish of Southwest Lousiana, I never really devoted much time to think about this bridge even though it is surely a local landmark due to it being one of the three tallest structures in the area (135 feet) until the building of L'Auberge du Lac Resort, the tallest building between Houston and Baton Rouge. All I knew about the bridge was that it was big. The I-10 Bridge is located about where the Calcasieu River meets the lake that shares the name of the city, crossing the river to connect Lake Charles to Westlake, La. The design of the bridge itself is reflective of the culture of the region where it stands. The railing features crossed pistols that span its length. Even though the reason for the crossed pistols is not universally agreed upon, many hold it to be true that it is a gesture to celebrate the legacy of pirates who frequented Southwest Louisiana waterways, the most famous being Jean Lafitte. Legend says that Jean Lafitte buried some of his smuggled contraband in the area. But, Jean Lafitte's contraband did not only consist of material treasures, he also smuggled slaves into the state. The Lake Charles I-10 Bridge was built in 1952 under the governorship of Earl K. Long, brother of legendary former Louisiana governor and U.S. Senator Huey P. Long. 2009, the Louisiana DOTD released a statement proclaiming "the Interstate 10 bridge in Lake Charles is safe" despite receiving a Structural Evaluation rating of 3 by the NBI on a 0-9 scale. A rating of 3 denotes a structure is "basically intolerable requiring high priority of corrective action." This designation does not barr traffic on the roadway, but speed and weight limits are put into place. read more

See all

I've heard it said that facing your fears is a great way to overcome them. I am here to tell you that theory is a load of malarkey. This bridge is among my least favorite in Louisiana for many reason. The main reason I don't like it is that driving over it makes me feel like I am seconds from death. I don't know if it is the height and steepness or the fact that I read it's in need of structural repair. Whatever it is, I get in the left lane, close my eyes and pray for the best. OK, I don't really close my eyes, but you get the picture. Another thing I don't particularly care for regarding this bridge is the view. Sure you get to see Lake Chuck from above, but there is also a lot of industry along the lake. I want to see marinas and sailboats damnit! The one thing this bridge does have going for it is the guard rail. It seems flimsy as all get out and makes me think I'll plummet to my death if I hit it. But it also has crossed blackpowder pistols at the top of teh rail. How cool is that? read more