| I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Carries | Motor vehicles |
| Crosses | Calcasieu River |
| Locale | Lake Charles, Louisiana |
| Maintained by | Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development |
| Total length | 6605.1 ft. |
| Longest span | 420.8 ft. |
| Opened | 1952 |
| Toll | Free both ways |
The Lake Charles I-10 Bridge is a cantilever bridge located on Interstate 10 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It was the only major bridge in Lake Charles until the construction of the Lake Charles Loop with the I-210 Calcasieu River High Bridge began in 1962. The bridge has a vertical clearance of 135 feet (41 m). It was built under the administration of Gov. Earl K. Long and opened in 1952. It has decorative iron work with crossed guns integrated into the railings. The I-10 Bridge was originally built as the U.S. Hwy 90 bridge and later was grandfathered into Interstate 10. The bridge was never intended to be an interstate bridge, and when the federal government took it over, they promised to replace the bridge at a later date. The bridge has been rated structurally deficient by the Department of Transportation but was declared safe by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. There are plans to replace the bridge and improve the Westlake exit.[1]
Before the bridge was built to traverse the Calcasieu River, drivers would detour south and cross over a draw bridge located by the port. The draw bridge connected with Shell Beach Drive which runs around the lake. The remnants of the old bridge can still be seen at the end of Shell Beach Drive by the Port of Lake Charles.