I-10 Highrise Bridge

I have a great appreciation for all bridges, but this one was a little bit scary to me. Everyone was cruising at a dangerous level of speed. It goes up pretty high. Once we got halfway over, you could see the beautiful water. I wished I could of taken more pictures while going over, but I was hanging on for my life! My daughter n law goes so fast!!! I thanked God for protecting us, while we were zooming over this bridge!

Oh I'm so happy to be able to review a bridge that I rarely have to cross but friends of mine have to deal with often along with all the traffic issue associate with this mammoth structure LOL. No I don't wish any bad on anyone having to face this monster daily and actually I'm kinda jealous that they more often than not get a chance to get an extended view from the top.

Built in 1966 the "Highrise" provides six lanes of traffic across the Industrial Canal in eastern New Orlean. You'd be wise to check the traffic reports if this is part of your route during high traffic hours or you may get a little of what the natives get on a regular basis, which over time has created the love hate relationship, I guess the saying " I never get tired of this view" doesn't apply here if you're a local. If you do find yourself needing to cross over and fear getting stuck on the "Highrise" there are a total of eight bridges that cross the Industrial Canal at last count but rumor has it the Almonaster Avenue Bridge stays in the up position most of the time so you may want to check before choosing that option.

The older I get, the bigger issue I Have with the height of this bridge. Im talking almost unbearable fear of looking to the sides. Ugh!

Its scary also because there has been a few times traffic was stopped on the other side of the hump so screeching brakes was the word of the day.

I have noticed bent up guardrails at the top too. I imagine them folks had to change their shorts when going home.

I been lucky with traffic because I travel it at odd times on my way east. I hope to keep it that way.

Now this bridge is just nerve wracking. The view heading into New Orleans is nice, the other direction is kind of depressing. It is very steep, and people seem to not know what to do when they are supposed to do when they get to the top and tend to slam on their brakes for no apparent reason. It is high to cross the industrial canal underneath it. The Almonaster Bridge is barely a mile to the north, and the Senator Hickey bridge is just north of that. Those two bridges are not quite as high, but they are lift bridges for taller vehicles to pass under.

I know this is odd, but I like to imagine that a huge troll lives under here, and I have to get over it quickly. I don't like this bridge, because inevitably, you can feel it move under you as the heavy vehicles cross the bridge. That may be a figment of my imagination though. It just seems old and not real well cared for. The shoulders are not very wide, and I pity the car that breaks down here, or the accidents that happen because they will block traffic for HOURS!

Stay safe and remember that just because this is a steep bridge, you will not fall off the other side. Maintain your speed and your wits about you!

I don't complain often but when I do it's for a good reason like every time I cross the I-10 high rise. As far as I can recall back 20 years or so this bridge has had its share of finder binders to fatalities. It can be a parking lot during rush hour and may be beneficial to take the scenic routes instead.
As many others would agree the view is majestic! Also if you enjoy that fresh coffee smell, take note that the Folger's coffee plant is nearby and you can smell the aroma for miles.

For the life of me, I just don't understand WHY O WHY theres ALWAYS traffic on this portion of the interstate system!!! Especially when the same people travel here day in & day out.

I've been told its too high & it is known to vibrate at the very top; I've been told the architecture was poor, its too steep & people are fearful of what's on the other side. Idk. But seems like if either of these things were true, those people who feel this way should, IDK, maybe AVOID IT!!!! Lol.

This is a main thoroughfare from Slidell to New Orleans & IMHO it should flow a little better. Its always the same areas that get jammed up.

I will admit, while at the top, theres a very picturesque view of the city, I hope that wasn't the intent when it was constructed. Not the easiest (or safest) place to necessarily take a picture.

See ya at the top!!!

The Highrise Bridge is one of the worst traffic hotspots in the city. When listening to the traffic report on local media, this location seems to always have something bad going on.

I think part of the problem is the height of the bridge. My guess is that the thin air at the peak of the bridge robs the drivers brains of oxygen causing brief moments of unconsciousness. During these unconscious moments, drivers either accelerate rapidly or remove their foot from the gas pedal entirely. You can imagine the chaos that ensues when hat happens.

I think the other part of the problem is New Orleans drivers are easily distracted. When you get to the top of the Highrise you can see all sorts of cool stuff. The Nola skyline, other bridges, the old Big Lots warehouse, train tracks, plus lots more. Once distracted by the view, people have the tendency to smash into those drivers suffering the loss of consciousness.

The only advice I can give someone traveling this bridge is to set you cruise, focus on the road, and watch out for unconscious drivers.

Good luck!

Coming into Nola from Slidell this bridge is a necessary evil. I don't dislike this bridge at all, in fact I think the view of New Orleans from the top is really pretty.

The problem is that it's very steep and for that reason people seem to forget WTF to do once they get to the top. So they all brake hard and stop. Because that makes sense, right?! That causes many accidents and I've seen several of them. One happened right in front of me not too long ago. It also means traffic is backed up on the bridge often.

Once the descent down starts, people usually remember to start driving like they are actually licensed drivers and not, in fact, morons. Most of them, anyway.

It's ok people. You're not going to fall off. Just drive at a steady pace so we can all get to where we are going. I've got a date with the Fleurty Girl store. Move it!

So here's my big tip about the high rise, do not try to cross over on a low tank of gas. People will hate you when your car breaks down and traffic gets gacked up for miles.

Angie is correct; the few from the top is pretty but only gaze at length if you're a passenger. If you're the driver then keep your eyes on the road. Seriously why are there so many accidents?

As an occasional passerby, I find the bridge perfectly acceptable. If I drove this everyday I would need a rocket launcher.

Make sure your car is in good shape if you plan on crossing this bridge..I cross this bridge almost every day and at night when going up the high slope, it reminds me of a roller coaster somehow. No doubt the scariest bridge in the NOLA metro area. There's no where to pull over and it goes super high. No doubt I'd die if I got knocked off the side. The acceleration lanes to enter the I-10 on this bridge are way too short. They must have wanted to kill people with such poor construction..don't take these entrances unless emergency. Be ready for anything on this bridge..you can't see what's on other side of slope till you're up top. And what's up with the chairs and sofas that somehow are place in between the east and west sides right in the middle? Do people pull over on the High Rise and dump off furniture up there on purpose?