Atchafalaya Basin I-10 Bridge New Speed Enforcement

[bwana39]

The fines are doubling and camera enforcement including tickets by mail are coming to the Atchafalaya Basin I-10 bridges.

https://www.thecentersquare.com/louisiana/louisianas-edwards-signs-bill-to-allow-speed-cameras-on-atchafalaya-basin-bridge/article_6c7ebac6-f18b-11ec-ba77-1f543105932e.html

Doug Warner KSLA  (From Facebook)
1d  ·
Not that I'm aware if I've ever sped across this south Louisiana I-10 bridge, but daaang! You won't even be able to speed in the middle because they'll be timing you on the ends. Starting August 1st, if you cross it in less than 18 minutes, you'll get a speeding ticket. By the way, it's 18.2 miles long. #SoKeepItUnder60

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/well-i-ll-be-reaction-from-la-state-trooper-as-he-realizes-he-s-just-pulled-over-head-of-lsp-for-speeding/ar-AAZn0Ll?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=e70b272f220e4e5385a06a3c14e09515

[zzcarp]

And the real reason they're doing it:

Wilson told a House committee DOTD would only capture enough money from tickets to cover the cost of operating the camera system and would send the bulk of the fines to the two parishes along the roadway – Iberville and St. Martin parishes.

[webny99]

Per the data cited in the article, there were 229 crashes last year. I'm no expert but that seems like a lot for a single roadway... over 4 per week. Does anyone know what types of crashes are commonly occurring here?

[ethanhopkin14]

The fines are doubling and camera enforcement including tickets by mail are coming to the Atchafalaya Basin I-10 bridges.

https://www.thecentersquare.com/louisiana/louisianas-edwards-signs-bill-to-allow-speed-cameras-on-atchafalaya-basin-bridge/article_6c7ebac6-f18b-11ec-ba77-1f543105932e.html

Doug Warner KSLA  (From Facebook)
1d  ·
Not that I'm aware if I've ever sped across this south Louisiana I-10 bridge, but daaang! You won't even be able to speed in the middle because they'll be timing you on the ends. Starting August 1st, if you cross it in less than 18 minutes, you'll get a speeding ticket. By the way, it's 18.2 miles long. #SoKeepItUnder60

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/well-i-ll-be-reaction-from-la-state-trooper-as-he-realizes-he-s-just-pulled-over-head-of-lsp-for-speeding/ar-AAZn0Ll?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=e70b272f220e4e5385a06a3c14e09515

Good.  People drive way to fast on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge.  It's a delicate bridge and it has a low speed limit for a reason.  Don't upset the vibration because you are an impatient reckless diver. 

[hotdogPi]

The fines are doubling and camera enforcement including tickets by mail are coming to the Atchafalaya Basin I-10 bridges.

https://www.thecentersquare.com/louisiana/louisianas-edwards-signs-bill-to-allow-speed-cameras-on-atchafalaya-basin-bridge/article_6c7ebac6-f18b-11ec-ba77-1f543105932e.html

Doug Warner KSLA  (From Facebook)
1d  ·
Not that I'm aware if I've ever sped across this south Louisiana I-10 bridge, but daaang! You won't even be able to speed in the middle because they'll be timing you on the ends. Starting August 1st, if you cross it in less than 18 minutes, you'll get a speeding ticket. By the way, it's 18.2 miles long. #SoKeepItUnder60

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/well-i-ll-be-reaction-from-la-state-trooper-as-he-realizes-he-s-just-pulled-over-head-of-lsp-for-speeding/ar-AAZn0Ll?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=e70b272f220e4e5385a06a3c14e09515

Good.  People drive way to fast on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge.  It's a delicate bridge and it has a low speed limit for a reason.  Don't upset the vibration because you are an impatient reckless diver.

What is the bridge's resonance frequency? Sounds like a design issue to me.

[bwana39]

The fines are doubling and camera enforcement including tickets by mail are coming to the Atchafalaya Basin I-10 bridges.

https://www.thecentersquare.com/louisiana/louisianas-edwards-signs-bill-to-allow-speed-cameras-on-atchafalaya-basin-bridge/article_6c7ebac6-f18b-11ec-ba77-1f543105932e.html

Doug Warner KSLA  (From Facebook)
1d  ·
Not that I'm aware if I've ever sped across this south Louisiana I-10 bridge, but daaang! You won't even be able to speed in the middle because they'll be timing you on the ends. Starting August 1st, if you cross it in less than 18 minutes, you'll get a speeding ticket. By the way, it's 18.2 miles long. #SoKeepItUnder60

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/well-i-ll-be-reaction-from-la-state-trooper-as-he-realizes-he-s-just-pulled-over-head-of-lsp-for-speeding/ar-AAZn0Ll?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=e70b272f220e4e5385a06a3c14e09515

Good.  People drive way to fast on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge.  It's a delicate bridge and it has a low speed limit for a reason.  Don't upset the vibration because you are an impatient reckless diver.

That stretch is part of why I have gone across I-10 as opposed to US-190 2 x in my life.

[ethanhopkin14]

The fines are doubling and camera enforcement including tickets by mail are coming to the Atchafalaya Basin I-10 bridges.

https://www.thecentersquare.com/louisiana/louisianas-edwards-signs-bill-to-allow-speed-cameras-on-atchafalaya-basin-bridge/article_6c7ebac6-f18b-11ec-ba77-1f543105932e.html

Doug Warner KSLA  (From Facebook)
1d  ·
Not that I'm aware if I've ever sped across this south Louisiana I-10 bridge, but daaang! You won't even be able to speed in the middle because they'll be timing you on the ends. Starting August 1st, if you cross it in less than 18 minutes, you'll get a speeding ticket. By the way, it's 18.2 miles long. #SoKeepItUnder60

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/well-i-ll-be-reaction-from-la-state-trooper-as-he-realizes-he-s-just-pulled-over-head-of-lsp-for-speeding/ar-AAZn0Ll?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=e70b272f220e4e5385a06a3c14e09515

Good.  People drive way to fast on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge.  It's a delicate bridge and it has a low speed limit for a reason.  Don't upset the vibration because you are an impatient reckless diver.

What is the bridge's resonance frequency? Sounds like a design issue to me.

I don't know, I am not that smart.  Just drive slower on it so it won't collapse is all I got out of the article I read some years back.  Of course it's a design issue.  It's Louisiana. 

[bwana39]

The fines are doubling and camera enforcement including tickets by mail are coming to the Atchafalaya Basin I-10 bridges.

https://www.thecentersquare.com/louisiana/louisianas-edwards-signs-bill-to-allow-speed-cameras-on-atchafalaya-basin-bridge/article_6c7ebac6-f18b-11ec-ba77-1f543105932e.html

Doug Warner KSLA  (From Facebook)
1d  ·
Not that I'm aware if I've ever sped across this south Louisiana I-10 bridge, but daaang! You won't even be able to speed in the middle because they'll be timing you on the ends. Starting August 1st, if you cross it in less than 18 minutes, you'll get a speeding ticket. By the way, it's 18.2 miles long. #SoKeepItUnder60

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/well-i-ll-be-reaction-from-la-state-trooper-as-he-realizes-he-s-just-pulled-over-head-of-lsp-for-speeding/ar-AAZn0Ll?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=e70b272f220e4e5385a06a3c14e09515

Good.  People drive way to fast on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge.  It's a delicate bridge and it has a low speed limit for a reason.  Don't upset the vibration because you are an impatient reckless diver.

What is the bridge's resonance frequency? Sounds like a design issue to me.

I don't know, I am not that smart.  Just drive slower on it so it won't collapse is all I got out of the article I read some years back.  Of course it's a design issue.  It's Louisiana.

So I understand, it is about the mud under the supports. There is no "firm foundation".

[ethanhopkin14]

The fines are doubling and camera enforcement including tickets by mail are coming to the Atchafalaya Basin I-10 bridges.

https://www.thecentersquare.com/louisiana/louisianas-edwards-signs-bill-to-allow-speed-cameras-on-atchafalaya-basin-bridge/article_6c7ebac6-f18b-11ec-ba77-1f543105932e.html

Doug Warner KSLA  (From Facebook)
1d  ·
Not that I'm aware if I've ever sped across this south Louisiana I-10 bridge, but daaang! You won't even be able to speed in the middle because they'll be timing you on the ends. Starting August 1st, if you cross it in less than 18 minutes, you'll get a speeding ticket. By the way, it's 18.2 miles long. #SoKeepItUnder60

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/well-i-ll-be-reaction-from-la-state-trooper-as-he-realizes-he-s-just-pulled-over-head-of-lsp-for-speeding/ar-AAZn0Ll?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=e70b272f220e4e5385a06a3c14e09515

Good.  People drive way to fast on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge.  It's a delicate bridge and it has a low speed limit for a reason.  Don't upset the vibration because you are an impatient reckless diver.

What is the bridge's resonance frequency? Sounds like a design issue to me.

I don't know, I am not that smart.  Just drive slower on it so it won't collapse is all I got out of the article I read some years back.  Of course it's a design issue.  It's Louisiana.

So I understand, it is about the mud under the supports. There is no "firm foundation".

They drilled forever until they hit solid ground and built from there.  Of course that was 50-60 years ago so that does have a shelf life. 

[Rothman]

Wait...I can singlehandedly bring a bridge down just by driving too fast on it?  I believe I sped on that bridge already.

[ethanhopkin14]

Wait...I can singlehandedly bring a bridge down just by driving too fast on it?  I believe I sped on that bridge already.

I think it was mostly the truck traffic. 

[Tom958]

What is the bridge's resonance frequency? Sounds like a design issue to me.

What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

[froggie]

African or European?

[LM117]

And the real reason they're doing it:

Wilson told a House committee DOTD would only capture enough money from tickets to cover the cost of operating the camera system and would send the bulk of the fines to the two parishes along the roadway – Iberville and St. Martin parishes.

Taking a page from Hopewell, VA's playbook.

[roadman65]

The fines are doubling and camera enforcement including tickets by mail are coming to the Atchafalaya Basin I-10 bridges.

https://www.thecentersquare.com/louisiana/louisianas-edwards-signs-bill-to-allow-speed-cameras-on-atchafalaya-basin-bridge/article_6c7ebac6-f18b-11ec-ba77-1f543105932e.html

Doug Warner KSLA  (From Facebook)
1d  ·
Not that I’m aware if I’ve ever sped across this south Louisiana I-10 bridge, but daaang! You won’t even be able to speed in the middle because they’ll be timing you on the ends. Starting August 1st, if you cross it in less than 18 minutes, you’ll get a speeding ticket. By the way, it’s 18.2 miles long. #SoKeepItUnder60

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/well-i-ll-be-reaction-from-la-state-trooper-as-he-realizes-he-s-just-pulled-over-head-of-lsp-for-speeding/ar-AAZn0Ll?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=e70b272f220e4e5385a06a3c14e09515

How about trucks ignoring the NO TRUCKS LEFT LANE signs? I noticed that a semi used the Left Lane to pass a slow moving car when driving it last April.


Oh BTW you can discount time by stopping at the rest area? Speed all you want, but spend a few minutes at the area.

[froggie]

Cry "revenue enhancement" all you want, but the fact of the matter remains that the bridges have a very high crash rate and speeding is the top reason for those crashes.  The volume of trucks on I-10 does not help matters any.

[Rothman]

Cry "revenue enhancement" all you want, but the fact of the matter remains that the bridges have a very high crash rate and speeding is the top reason for those crashes.  The volume of trucks on I-10 does not help matters any.

Fix the bridges.

[US 89]

There was pretty much no chance to even come close to speeding when I drove across this a month ago. Way too much traffic for that.

[froggie]

Cry "revenue enhancement" all you want, but the fact of the matter remains that the bridges have a very high crash rate and speeding is the top reason for those crashes.  The volume of trucks on I-10 does not help matters any.

Fix the bridges.

Please elaborate.

[bwana39]

Cry "revenue enhancement" all you want, but the fact of the matter remains that the bridges have a very high crash rate and speeding is the top reason for those crashes.  The volume of trucks on I-10 does not help matters any.

Fix the bridges.

Please elaborate.

Replacement is a $billion+ undertaking. The state DOTD budget would be basically all used up there.  DO you have some other engineering type suggestion?

[Rothman]

Cry "revenue enhancement" all you want, but the fact of the matter remains that the bridges have a very high crash rate and speeding is the top reason for those crashes.  The volume of trucks on I-10 does not help matters any.

Fix the bridges.

Please elaborate.

Replacement is a $billion+ undertaking. The state DOTD budget would be basically all used up there.  DO you have some other engineering type suggestion?

Never replacing the bridges is not an option.

How do people on here think any state affords a megaproject?  Most involve special additional funding from the federal government and this bridge is significant enough that it would definitely get such assistance.

[plain]

Whenever these bridges get replaced, I wouldn't be surprised if a GeauxPass will come in handy afterwards.

[sprjus4]

From my view, all it seems reducing the speed limit has done is create a barrier between those traveling a reasonable speed and what the road is designed for (70-75 mph) and those following 55-60 mph. Driving it recently, I noticed a lot of tailgating, brake slamming, weaving in and out, because of the speed differentials.

I don't think the low speed limit has helped anything, except to make people in power feel better.

I still don't see a reason why a lower speed is warranted from an engineering and traffic standpoint. It's a straight road that traffic routinely moves at 70-75 mph when not congested with often little issues.

[ethanhopkin14]

Cry "revenue enhancement" all you want, but the fact of the matter remains that the bridges have a very high crash rate and speeding is the top reason for those crashes.  The volume of trucks on I-10 does not help matters any.

I don't understand why it has a high crash rate.  It is a straight bridge with no turns and both bridges are one way!!

[TXtoNJ]

From my view, all it seems reducing the speed limit has done is create a barrier between those traveling a reasonable speed and what the road is designed for (70-75 mph) and those following 55-60 mph. Driving it recently, I noticed a lot of tailgating, brake slamming, weaving in and out, because of the speed differentials.

I don't think the low speed limit has helped anything, except to make people in power feel better.

I still don't see a reason why a lower speed is warranted from an engineering and traffic standpoint. It's a straight road that traffic routinely moves at 70-75 mph when not congested with often little issues.

You don't understand why a 50 year old bridge built in an extremely unfavorable environment, might need specific constraints to prevent catastrophic damage?

The bridge does need replacing, but that's a $2 billion project, minimum, and will likely take the better part of a decade.