Fort Pike Bridge

{{Infobox Bridge

|bridge_name= Fort Pike Bridge

|image=FtPikeObservationDeckToRigolettsBridgeB.JPG

|caption=Bridge seen from Fort Pike, 2010

|official_name=

|also_known_as= Rigolets Bridge

|carries= 2 lanes of {{jct|state=LA|US|90}}

|crosses= Rigolets

|locale= New Orleans and Slidell (Louisiana)

|maint=

|id=

|design= Through truss swing bridge (old), box girder bridge (new)

|mainspan= {{convert|399.8|ft|m|0}}

|length= {{convert|3877.9|ft|m|0}}

|width= {{convert|20|ft|m|0}} (old), {{convert|40|ft|m|0}}

|clearance=

|below= {{convert|14.9|ft|m|0}}(old), {{convert|72|ft|m|0}} (new)

|traffic=

|open= June 9, 1930 (old)
January 15, 2008 (new)

|closed=

|toll=

|map_cue=

|map_image=

|map_text=

|map_width=

|coordinates={{coord|30|10|21.8|N|89|43|56.9|W|type:landmark}}

|lat=

|long=

}}

The Fort Pike Bridge (also known as the Rigolets Bridge), named after nearby Fort Pike, carries U.S. Route 90 across the Rigolets on the eastern side of Lake Pontchartrain between New Orleans and Slidell in Louisiana. It is owned and operated by Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development{{cite web |url= http://bridgehunter.com/la/orleans/rigolets/ |title= Fort Pike/Rigolets Bridge |publisher=bridgehunter.com|access-date= 2015-07-09}} The bridge opened on June 9, 1930, and along with the Chef Menteur Bridge provided a free route between New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. West of the bridge was the site of Jayne Mansfield's death in June 1967.{{cite web|title=The Night Jayne Mansfield Died, June 29, 1967 |work=Bob Walker's New Orleans Radio Site |url=http://www.walkerpub.com/radio_jaynemansfield.html |access-date=December 13, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217175001/http://www.walkerpub.com/radio_jaynemansfield.html |archive-date=February 17, 2007 }} A new span was constructed just to the north of the old span.

File:Zebpikesm.jpg, 2003]]

High-rise replacement

Construction of a new $50 million high-rise bridge began in October 2004. The new bridge was built by Massman Construction Co., of Kansas City, MO.{{Cite web|title=Bridges to solutions {{!}} Roads & Bridges|url=https://www.roadsbridges.com/bridges-solutions|website=www.roadsbridges.com|date=18 December 2008|language=en|access-date=2020-05-27}} It was delayed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which pushed a devastating storm surge through the area. The new bridge is just over one mile (1.6 km) in length and features two {{convert|12|ft|m|adj=on}} lanes with {{convert|8|ft|m|adj=on}} shoulders on both sides. The bridge rises to {{convert|72|ft}} to allow marine traffic to pass without interruption of bridge traffic. The new span opened to traffic on January 15, 2008. After completion of the new span, the old bridge was demolished.{{cite web |url= http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/01/new_highrise_rigolets_bridge_o.html |title= New highrise Rigolets bridge opens |access-date= 2008-05-04 |last= Rhoden |first= Robert |date= January 15, 2008 |publisher= The Times Picayune}}