About 15-miles west of the Mississippi River Bridge on I-10 is the impressive Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. While the I-10 Mississippi River Bridge is huge in terms of size (6-lanes) plus it reaches for the heavens in order to allow ocean going ships to pass underneath it the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge is equally impressive in length and the engineering feat that was required to construct this 20-mile bridge across America's most daunting swamp.

Atchafalaya Basin Bridge on I-10

The Atchafalaya Basin is the traditional flood plain of the Mississippi River and still functions as such in times of high water, usually associated with traditional spring runoff and flooding.

Before being "controlled" by the Corps of Engineers two-thirds of the mighty Mississippi used to flow to the Gulf of Mexico through the Atchafalaya Basin. Now huge levies hold back the Mississippi River and direct two-thirds of the flow through Baton Rouge and New Orleans. In times of high water more gates are opened to allow excess flow from the Mississippi River into the Atchafalaya Basin. As you can see from this picture of the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge, near the eastern side, the bridge is constructed as an east bound and west bound highway. What makes the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge different from most is the bridge is traveling along in tree tops along much of its 20-mile length.

In order to construct this portion of the bridge a canal was first constructed between what is now the two bridges that allowed barges with cranes to operate. Wheeled vehicles would sink out of sight in the mud. Also this canal provided a transportation link to move construction materials.

Atchafalaya Basin Bridge on I-10

Remember the Atchafalaya basin Bridge is 20-miles long. It doesn't take long before you begin to comprehend the tremendous engineering feat required to overcome this terrain.

Atchafalaya Basin Bridge on I-10

Several navigable rivers flow through the Atchafalaya Basin. The east and west bridges merge when crossing these rivers. We are descending from one of those bridges in this picture. These bridges are constructed high enough so that barge traffic and the tow boats that push them can pass underneath.

Louisiana visitor center and rest area on I-10 Midway across the Atchafalaya Basin

Somewhere near halfway across the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge on I-10 it crosses a small island that supports a Louisiana visitor center and rest area. As you can see there is parking for RV's.

Atchafalaya Basin Bridge on I-10

View from the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge on I-10 at island that houses the Louisiana visitor center and rest stop looking west.

Atchafalaya Basin Bridge on I-10

Western portion of the Atchafalaya Basin as seen from the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge on I-10.

Atchafalaya Basin Bridge on I-10

Typical scene from the western end of the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge on I-10.

Once on the western end of the Atchafalaya Basin we are getting near our destination. We were both dreaming about real Cajun food and one of our favorite feeding holes is at exit-115. Needless to say we pulled off and got diesel fuel as well as stopping at the Boudin Shack. The Boudin Shack is located on the northwest quadrant of exit-115. While not exactly a shack it ain't a 5-star palace either. It is more along the lines of a "locals" place where Cajuns from near and far arrive to sample the victuals. I sampled the crawfish etouffee, fried crawfish balls and potato salad while Joyce sampled the boudin balls and red-beans with rice. Ahh, we are truly in Cajun Country. Life don't get much better than this.

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Until next time remember how good life is.

When traveling through Louisiana one of the things we look forward to is our drive over the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge on I-10.