Flood Prematurely Opens New Bridge at St. Francisville

Im not knocking progress mind you but I guess Im just old fashioned because I sure hate to see the La. Ferry system go the way of the Steamboats not to mention the jobs lost as that happens. Does anyone know how many of them have been shut down besides the New Roads Ferry. I always enjoyed riding the Melville Ferry across the Atchafalaya, pronounced chafalya (tchoupitoulas is my other favorite word).

Work not completed

I wonder what work hasn't been completed yet -probably things like striping, lighting? I take it the approaches must be quite a ways inland since they aren't flooded. Where is this bridge in relation to the ferry landing?

The bridge is 4 miles down river, just below Cajun Electric Power plant.

The new 2.44 mile bridge, several miles downstream from the ferry landing, is the longest cable-stayed span in the Western Hemisphere, crossing between West Feliciana and Pointe Coupee Parishes. It carries four lanes of LA 10 and is the only bridge structure on the Mississippi between Natchez and Baton Rouge.

Four new intersections at existing LA 1, LA 10, LA 981 (River Road) and US 61 provide entry to and exit from the new roadway and bridge.

Is this a bridge that was really needed and not just another porky Sunshine Bridge? Is there still a ferry up there somewhere between Natchez and Vicksburg?

There used to be a ferry at St. Joseph, LA, but it has not operated for several years. There is no way to cross the Mississippi between Natchez and Vicksburg.

While a sedate ferry ride across the broad Mississippi between St. Francisville and New Roads was picturesque, many of those who live there tell me they welcome the new bridge with open arms. In the past few years, especially, the extended periods of high water as well as mechanical problems that closed the ferry made it rather unreliable for those who depended upon it each day. And, with the skyrocketing price of gasoline, making a drive all the way to Baton Rouge or Natchez to cross the river was time consuming and very expensive.

I heartily congratulate the bridge planners down Loozeyanna way for what has been accomplished in such a relatively short time when, here at Louisville, there has been LOTS of TALK of new bridges for over the past FORTY YEARS and NO action. Always more inane studies to be done and special interest groups to be dealt with and all their BS. The John F. Kennedy Bridge which carries I-65 over the Ohio is overloaded and often shut down, becoming a virtual parking lot nearly every day and putting extra traffic on the other two bridges that are also overwhelmed. I really don't expect to see any new bridges here in my lifetime, but I do I look forward to driving over the new John James Audubon Bridge at St. Francisville in the near future!

When visiting the ferry landing last week, I missed seeing "Miss Emily" Smothers, who often was there with her little red wagon full of homemade pralines as well as bags of peanuts and other snacks to sell to those waiting to cross the river. More Americana now sadly gone from the scene.

Bob Reynolds;25860 wrote: There used to be a ferry at St. Joseph, LA, but it has not operated for several years. There is no way to cross the Mississippi between Natchez and Vicksburg.

Unless your name is Mike Fink.

Sigh: Many years ago...mebbe 1973...I was in Missouri and wanted to get to Tennessee. Looking at the map, I saw there was a ferry at Cottonwood. Not expecting to find the Mississippi in flood, I went there. Indeed the ferry was in service. Ahead of me was a large truck of some weight. Well, we started across and I sure got my money's worth. Don't know how wide the river was but it was W-I-D-E! What with fighting the considerable current, we took a long time getting across. Upon arrival in Tennessee, when the truck drove off the ferry, as its wheels transferred the truck's considerable weight from the beam of the ferry (we were loaded athrartship) to the wharf boat, there was rather wild listing back and forth of the ferry AND the little wharf boat! Once off of the ferry and wharf boat, I found myself in about eight inches of water on the road. I had to drive with my door open so I could look down at the centerline stripe on the road to keep from running off the road into the ditch! West Tennessee is so flat there that I seemingly drove for miles before I got out of the water! As I left the ferry they said that was their last trip for the duration of the flood. I understand that the Cottonwood ferry is no more. Cap'n Walnut.

Great Story !

Tom ,
Great Story ! On the NORA pilot route and on the upper end we use the White Castle and Plaquemine ferry's to both get on and off the launch boats that take us t and from the ships in that area . Now , with the river so high , it is expected that both these ferry's will soon go out of service and we will be forced to use alternate means to embark and disembark the respective launch boats that we use !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
NOBRA 70

Tom Schiffer;25873 wrote: Sigh: Many years ago...mebbe 1973...I was in Missouri and wanted to get to Tennessee. Looking at the map, I saw there was a ferry at Cottonwood. Not expecting to find the Mississippi in flood, I went there. Indeed the ferry was in service. Ahead of me was a large truck of some weight. Well, we started across and I sure got my money's worth. Don't know how wide the river was but it was W-I-D-E! What with fighting the considerable current, we took a long time getting across. Upon arrival in Tennessee, when the truck drove off the ferry, as its wheels transferred the truck's considerable weight from the beam of the ferry (we were loaded athrartship) to the wharf boat, there was rather wild listing back and forth of the ferry AND the little wharf boat! Once off of the ferry and wharf boat, I found myself in about eight inches of water on the road. I had to drive with my door open so I could look down at the centerline stripe on the road to keep from running off the road into the ditch! West Tennessee is so flat there that I seemingly drove for miles before I got out of the water! As I left the ferry they said that was their last trip for the duration of the flood. I understand that the Cottonwood ferry is no more. Cap'n Walnut.

Part Of A master Plan !

Greetings From New Orleans !
That is a great and very valid question especially in this day of federal government massive deficits and uncontrolled spending !
Having said that , form what I and my pilot assocciation have been told , the new bridge located below St. Francisville is all part of a new and super expensive " Master Plan " to construct a new interstate Loop that encircles the city of Baton Rouge . I was also told that in order complete this Loop around the city , there will be built yet another bridge , this time south of the city of Baton Rouge !
Now , what has many of us now concerned is just where this new bridge will be constructed ! There has been rumors that one location for the new bridge will be some where in the vicinity of Plaquemine and another rumor is that it will be built and cross the river in the middle of Missouri Bend ! Furthermore , we were also told that if this Missouri Bend site is chosen , the construction company that builds this bridge will have to literally dredge out the Missouri Bend middle bar in order to properly locate and construct the respective bridge piers !
My point is that the St. Francisville bridge is just literally a drop in the bucket for the over all expense of building and completeing this outer highway loop for the city of Baton Rouge !
Time will tell and I would love to see the ultimate price tag for this new project and massive expense !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
NOBRA 70

Lexie Palmore;25859 wrote: Is this a bridge that was really needed and not just another porky Sunshine Bridge? Is there still a ferry up there somewhere between Natchez and Vicksburg?

I used to ride that ferry enroute from Texas to Natchez, every so often. It did not go across but at an angle, so it was like a little cruise. I used to pack a lunch, so it was also a dinner cruise.

The St. Francisville Bridge !

Greetings From Baton Rouge !
When I was in Baton Rouge yesterday to get a few shots of the M/V American Pillar accident , I also took a little side trip to St. Francisville to see for myself the new bridge that was constructed and opened early due to the Spring flood situation !
Actually , I was quite impressed although I was NOT able to see its horizontal profile or for that matter the underside of it , as I normally do when I am out on a ship . Now having said that I have to say that as far as bridges go , I thought that it was both attractive and impressive !
Now on the other hand , how many people did this new bridge put out of work and what was the overall initial expense to build the bridge and what will the cost for maintenance be for this new bridge ? I wonder if any one bothered to take these issues into account ?
As strange as this sounds , if your ever in the area , a trip across the bridge would be a nice little side trip as well !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
NOBRA 70