World's longest continuous bridge over water: world record near New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States--The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway across Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, links the urban area of New Orleans, Louisiana, with the smaller communities on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain; the roadway is 38 kilometers (24 miles) long, supported by 9,500 concrete pilings, and sets the world record for being the World's longest continuous bridge over water, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.
"Due to recent feats of Chinese engineering, the four-lane, 5,189-pile concrete trestle bridge north of New Orleans got demoted by Guinness World Records for world’s longest bridge over water," the CNN reports.
"But the change did not come without controversy, with many Pontchartrain loyalists arguing that the new winner, a 25.84-mile elevated highway-bridge-tunnel project near Qingdao, China, actually has only 16.1 miles that span the sea compared to 23.79 miles of Pontchartrain’s that are over open water.
"Guinness compromised by bestowing a new title upon the 58-year-old causeway: Longest Bridge Over Water (Continuous). However you rank it, it’s still a pulse-quickening half-hour drive."
"On August 30, 1956, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway opened across Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is the longest continuous bridge over water in the world. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway links the urban area of New Orleans, Louisiana, with the smaller communities on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain," the National Geographic Magazine reports.
"The roadway is 38 kilometers (24 miles) long, and supported by 9,500 concrete pilings. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway benefited residents on both sides of the bridge.
"People who worked in the city had their commute time reduced drastically. The bridge also increases business for retail stores and restaurants in towns on the north shore by allowing New Orleanians and tourists greater access."
"The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway (French: Chaussée du lac Pontchartrain), also known simply as The Causeway, is a fixed link composed of two parallel bridges crossing Lake Pontchartrain in southeastern Louisiana, United States. The longer of the two bridges is 23.83 miles (38.35 km) long. The southern terminus of the causeway is in Metairie, Louisiana, and the northern terminus is in Mandeville, Louisiana. Both are in the New Orleans metropolitan area.
"The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway holds the Guinness World Record for longest continuous span over water in the world. It previously was listed as longest bridge over water in the world; in 2011, in response to the opening of the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in China, Guinness World Records created two categories for bridges over water: Lake Pontchartrain Causeway then became the longest bridge over water (continuous), while the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge became the longest bridge over water (aggregate).
"The bridges are supported by 9,500 concrete pilings. The two bridges feature a bascule, which spans the navigation channel 8 miles (13 km) south of the north shore."
"For decades Lake Pontchartrain Causeway was listed by Guinness World Records as the longest bridge over water in the world. In July 2011 the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in China was named by Guinness World Records as the 'longest bridge over water'.[4] At that time there was some controversy in the United States as supporters of the former holder of the record, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, disagreed with Guinness World Records not calling the causeway the longest.
"Supporters made this claim based on its own definition i.e., the length of a bridge physically over water and concluded that the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway spans 23.79 mi (38.28 km), and was therefore the longest. The Jiaozhou Bay Bridge spans water for only 16.1 mi (25.9 km). However, Guinness World Records, using the criteria of measurement that included aggregate structures, such as land bridges on the ends and an under-sea tunnel, stated that the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge is 26.5 mi (42.6 km) long.
"Following this controversy in July 2011, Guinness World Records created two categories for bridges over water: continuous and aggregate lengths over water. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway then became the longest bridge over water (continuous),[3] while Jiaozhou Bay Bridge became the longest bridge over water (aggregate)."
(Wikipedia)
Bridge Components
-The southbound bridge has 2,246 spans (decks). Each span is typically 28’ in width by 56’ in length. Southbound was completed in 1956.
-The northbound bridge has 1,506 spans. Each span is typically 28’ in width by 84’ length. Northbound was completed in 1969.
-The spans consist of monolithically-cast, precast prestressed concrete girders, decks and rails.
-The spans have a 10 foot clearance with average water levels.
-The spans are supported on precast pile bents resting on top of 54” diameter hollow, precast, post-tensioned concrete piles. The southbound pile bents have two piles each and northbound have three piles each (to support longer span length). Over 9,000 piles support the bridges. Piles average 90’ in length. (official website)
"In building the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge, which took just fourteen months, assembly-line, mass-production methods were utilized for the first time in the construction of a bridge. Two factors contributed to why the bridge received this designation: (1) the civil engineers who worked on the project; and (2) the innovative techniques used during construction," the American Society of Civil Engineers says.
"Dr. Maxwell Upson, who was the Chairman of the Board of Raymond Concrete Pile Company, one of the largest contracting companies for foundations in the United States, was an innovator in the field of prestressed concrete, particularly in pile fabrication and installation. He saw prestressed concrete as a way to break down the barriers that once limited how piles could be installed. Before Dr. Upson's research, most concrete piles were square with dimensions of 24 inches or less. He saw potential for using piles with dimensions of 36 to 54 inches. Using smaller pile segments and prestressing technology, he revolutionized the way piles were manufactured.
"Up until Upson's development of the 54 inch hollow cylindrical prestressed concrete piles, the standard practice was to use solid square or circular concrete piles with dimensions equal to, or less than, 24 inches. Upson also developed a new method to manufacture these concrete piles so that they would achieve a higher concrete strength - nearly 10,000 psi. This procedure was called cenviro which used centrifugal force to generate a drier more compact concrete."
"The lake is crossed by several bridges, notably the Pontchartrain Causeway. The causeway consists of two parallel road bridges, completed in 1956 and 1969, respectively, each of which runs for nearly 24 miles (39 km) northward across the lake from Metairie (a suburb of New Orleans) to Mandeville," the Britannica says.
"The twin spans, among the longest overwater bridges in the world, have become a stopover for huge flocks of migrating purple martins. The spans were largely undamaged by Hurricane Katrina.
" The major access bridges serving the Greater New Orleans area, in addition to the Greater New Orleans Bridge, are the Huey P. Long Bridge, which crosses the river above the city, and the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, a twin-span structure that is among the world’s longest bridges, stretching nearly 24 miles (39 km)."
"The bridge is so long that motorists lose sight of land for an eight-mile stretch, and drivers have been known to freeze out of some kind of false seaborne fear, at which point the police have escorted them off the bridge. Babies have been born on the causeway when their mothers failed to make it to the hospital on the other side. And an airplane once ran out of gas over the lake, eventually landing safely on the bridge," the Atlas Obscura says.
"The causeway crosses Lake Pontchartrain in southern Louisiana, with its southern terminus in the Metairie suburb of New Orleans and the northern terminus in Mandeville on the northern shores of the lake.
"Tolls are collected on the north shore for southbound traffic only. The standard toll for cars is $5 in cash and $3 for tags (used with the electronic toll collection system). A bascule drawbridge is located at the 16.0-mile marker on the causeway, allowing water traffic to pass under the bridge."
"The Causeway's parallel bridge first opened in 1956 and then had a second grand opening in 1969. It's supported by 9,000 concrete pilings and spans an impressive 24 miles, making it the longest over-water bridge in the entire world. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is absolutely a marvel of American engineering, and an essenetial destination for anyone visiting Louisiana," the Road Trippers says.
"In fact, the lake is a bit of a pop-culture icon, from the numerous songs written about it, to its appearance in literature such as Harriet Beecher-Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, Joe (son of Stephen King) Hill's Heart-Shaped Box, Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, as well as films likeThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the classic Shark Night 3D, and Lucio Fulci's cult horror classic, The Beyond.
"The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, sometimes only the Causeway, is a causeway composed of two parallel bridges crossing Lake Pontchartrain in southern Louisiana, United States. The longer of the two bridges is 23.83 miles (38.35 km) long. The southern terminus of the Causeway is in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The northern terminus is at Mandeville, Louisiana. Each weekday over 40,000 cars cross the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway."
"An unnumbered route, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway holds the distinction as the longest over-water highway in the world. The 23.87 mile long bridge spans 1/1000th of the earth's circumference on its course between Metairie and Mandeville. The northbound span is actually slightly longer than the companion southbound span. The twin spans are situated 80 feet apart with seven crossovers / turnouts linking the two and providing space for breakdowns and other maintenance needs," the AARoads.com says.
"The bridge system travels at an average height of 15 and 16 feet over the brackish waters of Lake Pontchartrain. Incorporated into the design are three main ship passes, where the bridges elevate to a height of 25 feet. Larger vessels can pass below two marine spans, each with a 50 foot clearance. A drawbridge accommodates the largest of ships at a location eight miles south of the north shore. The highest point of the bridge overall is no more than 60 feet.
"Causeway Boulevard connects the north end of the bridge system as an at-grade route with U.S. 190 and LA 22 (Emerald Road). A freeway (Tammany Parkway) extends north from there to Interstate 12 near Covington. The south end of the causeway transitions into a heavily traveled commercial arterial (Causeway Boulevard) to Interstate 10 in Metairie. 2014 traffic counts to the south ranged from 75,708 to 123,111 vehicles per day (vpd) at the rebuilt interchange with I-10."
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