I would like to move my boat back from Pensacola to Lake Pontchartrain in a couple of weeks. I recently read here that some of the bridges at the Rigolets and on the lake were not be working. Does anyone know the current status of the bridges? Who would have 'all' of this information...Coast Guard, Dept Wildlife Fisheries etc? thanks!
Lake Pontchartrain & Rigolets to Mississippi Sound
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Bridges
Hey Guy, The hwy. 90 bridge at the Rigolets is not working. Last I heard, couple of weeks ago, they said it was closed to marine traffic indefinately. My personal opinion is that they are not going to fix it. They lost power late last year, when I think, the new bridge construction cut the power cable to it. Have been running off a generator since then. Apparently this isn't working. The new bridge is supposed to be finished by the end of the year. This is all hear say info. but the bridge rarely works, and you can't depend on it at all. The Chef pass bridge is working, but the water is too shallow once in the lake to get through there, unless you have a very shallow draft. Anything over three feet won't make it through there. At this time the only alternative is through the ICW, to the inner harbor canal. This will add a full day to the trip. I came through here last time out,( two weeks ago ). The bridge operators in there are a nightmare. They usually will not answer any call, and you just have to pull up and wait. I had to call the Coast Guard to get through the Seabrook Bridge going out, and coming back they opened, but never answered a call. The last bridge coming into the lake is now the Seabrook Bridge, as the name has been changed. The charts show it as Lakeview. Hope this helps and good luck. If you have not been through here before watch the currents, especially at the Seabrook Bridge. If you catch the tide right, the current through there makes it really tough to control your boat, as it's very narrow. Good Luck
Hey Guy, The hwy. 90 bridge at the Rigolets is not working. Last I heard, couple of weeks ago, they said it was closed to marine traffic indefinately. My personal opinion is that they are not going to fix it. They lost power late last year, when I think, the new bridge construction cut the power cable to it. Have been running off a generator since then. Apparently this isn't working. The new bridge is supposed to be finished by the end of the year. This is all hear say info. but the bridge rarely works, and you can't depend on it at all. The Chef pass bridge is working, but the water is too shallow once in the lake to get through there, unless you have a very shallow draft. Anything over three feet won't make it through there. At this time the only alternative is through the ICW, to the inner harbor canal. This will add a full day to the trip. I came through here last time out,( two weeks ago ). The bridge operators in there are a nightmare. They usually will not answer any call, and you just have to pull up and wait. I had to call the Coast Guard to get through the Seabrook Bridge going out, and coming back they opened, but never answered a call. The last bridge coming into the lake is now the Seabrook Bridge, as the name has been changed. The charts show it as Lakeview. Hope this helps and good luck. If you have not been through here before watch the currents, especially at the Seabrook Bridge. If you catch the tide right, the current through there makes it really tough to control your boat, as it's very narrow. Good Luck
confirmed your info...
I talked to DOTD and they confirmed that Hwy 90 permanently closed. There are structural problems with the locking system as well as the tracks. They expect (hope)the new bridge to be completed by mid Dec. A friend of mine took the Chef pass with 5' draft, said if you stay about 500 yards off the eastern shoreline, there's 6' of water or so. Have you heard anything about this? I've been through those inner harbor bridges and you're right, the currents are horrible there. cheers
I talked to DOTD and they confirmed that Hwy 90 permanently closed. There are structural problems with the locking system as well as the tracks. They expect (hope)the new bridge to be completed by mid Dec. A friend of mine took the Chef pass with 5' draft, said if you stay about 500 yards off the eastern shoreline, there's 6' of water or so. Have you heard anything about this? I've been through those inner harbor bridges and you're right, the currents are horrible there. cheers
Chef Pass
Guy, the charts all show 3' through there and I talked to a Tow Boats guy a few weeks ago, and he told me the same thing. However, if this is possible would certainly save a day. If I can find someone with a boat and a good depth finder I will take a run over there and check it out. While I would love to be able to save a day in transit, not real interested in ending up aground in there. If I can find out any more on this will post it up. By the way, have you heard anything on the clearance for the new Hwy. 90 Bridge. Someone told me it was going to be 55'. That would be tough for me, and would have to go through on a low tide for sure. I just can't imagine them building that bridge with a 55' clearance. But this is Louisiana, so things are not supposed to make sense.
Guy, the charts all show 3' through there and I talked to a Tow Boats guy a few weeks ago, and he told me the same thing. However, if this is possible would certainly save a day. If I can find someone with a boat and a good depth finder I will take a run over there and check it out. While I would love to be able to save a day in transit, not real interested in ending up aground in there. If I can find out any more on this will post it up. By the way, have you heard anything on the clearance for the new Hwy. 90 Bridge. Someone told me it was going to be 55'. That would be tough for me, and would have to go through on a low tide for sure. I just can't imagine them building that bridge with a 55' clearance. But this is Louisiana, so things are not supposed to make sense.
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