Louisiana has been known for having bad roads for years, particularly in New Orleans. In fact, Louisiana drivers actually pay over $500 in additional maintenance from the poor roadways.
A specific roadway problem that has inspired a great amount of discussion and a yearlong study is the safety of drivers on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway.
Proposed Upgrade Prompted by Fatal Causeway Bridge Accidents
There have been several Causeway Bridge accidents where cars have gone off of the bridge and into Lake Pontchartrain, 13 off of the southbound side of the bridge and only one off of the northbound side. However, while this may not seem like a high number, 11 people lost their lives in those accidents. This loss of life is simply unacceptable.
Recognizing the need for a change, a yearlong study was undertaken to come up with a solution for the problem.
Yearlong Causeway Bridge Study Recommends Upgraded Railing
The biggest problem with the bridge is that the southbound railing is lower than that on the northbound side. This creates what is essentially a ramp that can send vehicles into the lake.
The solution devised by transportation experts is to increase the height of the railings on the southbound and northbound sides of the bridge. For the southbound side, experts propose adding two additional guardrails, which will raise overall rail height to 46 inches. The railing on the northbound side is already a good bit higher than the southbound side, so they believe that a single additional guardrail will suffice.
These improvements will cost an estimated $53 million. The source of funding is unknown at this time, but thankfully it appears that raising tolls is the “last resort.”
Call a New Orleans Car Accident Attorney
As the Causeway Bridge accidents show, car accident can be caused, not just by negligent drivers, but by road conditions as well.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, call a New Orleans personal injury attorney at (504) 564-7342 to discuss your case.
