Old Highway 90’s Closure Raises Questions About Evacuation Readiness Along Louisiana’s Gulf Coast

Old Highway 90’s Closure Raises Questions About Evacuation Readiness Along Louisiana’s Gulf Coast

For years, Old Highway 90 between Slidell and Waveland served as more than just a scenic drive. It was an alternate route when Interstate 10 backed up, a connection for local communities, and part of the region’s hurricane evacuation network. Today, that route remains cut off after multiple aging Pearl River bridges were deemed structurally unsafe and closed.

The closure began in May 2022 after inspectors found significant deterioration in the West Pearl River Bridge. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) later determined that four bridges along the corridor would ultimately need to be replaced before the highway could fully reopen. The bridges, many of which date back to 1933, were determined to be beyond practical rehabilitation.

DOTD says the long-term project is intended to restore a critical transportation link, improve structural safety, and preserve an alternate route for incidents on Interstate 10 and hurricane evacuations. Current project information shows construction is expected to begin in 2027, provided funding remains available.

DOTD identifies the US 90 project as supporting hurricane evacuation, underscoring the route’s importance beyond everyday commuting. With Old Highway 90 unavailable, motorists traveling between Louisiana and Mississippi have fewer alternatives if a crash or major construction reduces Interstate 10 to one lane.

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