Jul 24, 2023 - News

I-10 bridge reopens at Louisiana-Mississippi state line

Carlie Kollath Wells

Photo shows a workers rebuilding the East Pearl River Bridge. Heavy equipment is on the bridge deck and below it. — Workers replaced the railing and a section of the deck on the I-10 East Pearl River Bridge. Photo: Courtesy of Mississippi Department of Transportation

The Interstate 10 bridge at the Louisiana-Mississippi state line fully reopened Friday, officials say, ending a project that was causing miles of delays heading to New Orleans.

The project, which was originally scheduled to be finished by Aug. 11, wrapped up three weeks early.

Why it matters: I-10 is the main corridor through south Louisiana and connects New Orleans with popular beach destinations in Florida and Alabama. It's also an important hurricane evacuation route.

State of play: Delays were averaging about an hour on weekends, causing drivers to look for detours.

Catch up quick: The westbound lanes of the East Pearl River Bridge needed to be repaired after a fiery crash earlier this year, according to the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

The damaged concrete railing was replaced, along with a new section of the bridge deck.

Yes, but: The West Pearl River Bridge on Highway 90 is still closed, according to Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

Highway 90 is often used as an I-10 alternative to cross the state line, but the St. Tammany section has been closed since May 2022.
The bridge and four others need to be replaced, DOTD spokesman Daniel Gitlin tells Axios.
They won't reopen until 2028 under the current timeline.

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I-10 bridge reopens at Louisiana-Mississippi state line

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