Claiborne Avenue Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Claiborne Avenue Bridge |
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Claiborne Avenue Bridge in raised position
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| Coordinates | 29°58′09″N 90°01′33″W / 29.969096°N 90.025734°W |
| Carries |  LA 39 (Claiborne Avenue) |
| Crosses | Industrial Canal |
| Locale | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Official name | Judge William Seeber Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | vertical-lift bridge |
| Longest span | 360 feet (110 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1957 |
The Claiborne Avenue Bridge is a special kind of bridge called a vertical lift bridge. It's located in New Orleans, Louisiana, and it crosses over the Industrial Canal. Its official name is the Judge William Seeber Bridge.
This bridge was built by the Louisiana Department of Highways and opened in 1957. It has faced several challenges over the years. For example, a barge hit it in 1993. Hurricane Katrina also caused damage in 2005. Later, in 2008, a car drove off the bridge due to a problem with its safety gates.
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What is the Claiborne Avenue Bridge?
The Claiborne Avenue Bridge has four lanes for cars, with two lanes going in each direction. These lanes are part of North Claiborne Avenue, which is also known as Louisiana Highway 39. When the bridge is in its "down" position, most boats can still pass underneath it.
The bridge connects different parts of New Orleans. It's located in the 9th Ward of New Orleans. On one side is the Upper 9th Ward, and on the other is the Lower 9th Ward. The bridge is very important for people traveling between New Orleans and nearby towns like Arabi and Chalmette in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. Many local people who use the bridge every day don't even know its official name!
How Did Hurricane Katrina Affect the Bridge?
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused a lot of damage to the areas around the bridge. The Lower 9th Ward, especially, was hit very hard. Because of the hurricane, the Claiborne Avenue Bridge could not be used for several months. It was left in the "up" position so that ships could still travel through the Canal. The bridge was finally fixed and reopened in early 2006.
What Happened with the Bridge's Safety Gates?
On May 20, 2008, there was an accident at the bridge. When the bridge was raised for boats to pass, the safety gates that usually block cars from driving onto the bridge were not working. This meant that cars could get too close to the edge. Several cars almost drove off the bridge, but their drivers stopped in time. However, one car did go off the bridge and into the canal. This incident showed how important it is for bridge safety systems to work correctly.
Images for kids
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Aerial view of the Industrial Canal and Claiborne Avenue Bridge
