Crescent City Connection Bridge

Finally, a major bridge that I can cross that doesn’t have a toll as of 2016! I will admit that going into New Orleans from Harvey and seeing those empty toll booths can be a bit confusing, even to some of the locals. You still see tons of cars slowing down to pay a non-​existent toll. WTH?
Nonetheless, the ride going from East Bank to West Bank and vice-​versa is actually quite smooth. The bridge itself doesn’t have the rusted out iron trestles, hard bumps, pot holes in it that you would expect from some other well known Louisiana bridges (I’m talking about you, Huey P. Long Bridge in Baton Rouge). Even more importantly, traffic seems to flow accordingly, unless you are on the bridge around 7:30 — 9:00 AM and 4 – 6 PM from Monday-​Friday.
A good design that adds to the downtown skyline, the CCC is one NoLa bridge that I wouldn’t mind taking indefinitely… provided that the lack of toll booths stay the same! Bravo, New Orleans! Bravo!

Quick link from West to East Bank, including HOV Lane for vehicles with 2 or more people, which offers convenient entrances/​exits (depending on direction of flow) at Carrollton/​Erhart or the Convention Center.
Directions of flow generally changes at midnight (West to East) and noon (East to West).

After Katrina, my unit had stayed at the naval air station on the west bank before heading over to the east bank to help. The bridge is impressive and I spent that memorable drive on a phone interview for a job (that I didn’t end up getting) while getting the first views coming in to the city.
In my travels to New Orleans before Katrina, and now since moving here, has always impressed me. The lanes are a decent size, and the bridge is a smooth ride. The views of the city are pretty darn awesome, in my opinion.

I take this bridge more often than i’d like. Considering I have to drag my ass to Algiers everyday to get to work. Ugh.
Getting across this bridge in the afternoon will ruin your day! There’s literally traffic in the afternoon by 2:30 — 3pm… rain or shine. Then there’s the agony of one of the lanes coming from the WB being closed so there’s a ton of build up around General de Gaulle which makes the ride even more torturous.
I usually just make an illegal u-​tun under the overpass and get on the CCC that way. In my mind I swear that minimizes some of the driving time.
What’s up with the tolls still being there tho?
Sometimes its easier to take the Chalmette Ferry in the mornings/​afternoons if you can time it right… and considering its in service :-/

This iconic symbol of New Orleans is classically beautiful. The lights are gorgeous at night; and the shadows thrown across it by daylight are simply inspiring. It is a safe bridge. Neither I nor anyone I know has ever been let down by the bridge. We all manage to cross safely. Not a single one of us has fallen in or feared it collapsing under us.
Traffic on the eastbound side is a nightmare. When the tolls were in place, peoole at least had a stopping point which allowed for small distances between vehicles and at least elementary merging. I remember in the debate for whether or not to maintain the toll system, an argument used to defend keeping them was that divers would be forced to go from ten (10!) lanes to a measly four. Whoever wrote that was an idiot. It starts at four lanes and moves on to ten and then four. Four lanes to ten to four is where all the traffic becomes a horrendous portion of many drivers’ commutes. I can’t say I blame the bridge for all the inconsiderate, self-​important, poorly skilled drivers who lack any ounce of courtesy.
If you are looking for a good bridge to cross the mighty Mississippi River, this is a great bridge. If you are seeking a nice place to listen to some good jams, this bridge is a prime location. But if you are in a hurry, you may want to brush up on your patience.
The westbound side is much better by comparison.

If you want a nice view of The Crescent City at night take a trip across the The Crescent City Connection. Please remember Eventhough there are eight lanes you can not stop on the bridge to view the sites like most cities. That is why I subtracted a star.

Since the tolls are no more I don’t think they are keeping the bridge up as well as they used to. Lately I’ve been seeing more and more road debris and dirt up there.
As far as the bridge and traffic goes I’m partial to the reversible HOV lanes. You can find the entrances to them on tchoupitoulas and on earhart by the Home Depot on the East Bank (open 1:00p — 3:00a) and on the West Bank Expy and on General De Gaulle on the West Bank (open 5:00a — 11:00a) I’m usually running around with the kids so I’m always a 2+ car. It’s nice to be zipping along at 50mph while everyone else is stopped in traffic.

The Crescent City Connection. I mean, just look at it you guys. It’s gorgeous. I know people complain about the traffic and I’m guessing if I traveled across it everyday I would too. I don’t, but can tell you this…
It’s fucking beautiful. During the day or all lit up at night. It is my favorite bridge in the entire world. When you buy a postcard from Nola it’ll most likely have a photo of St. Louis Cathedral or the Crescent City Connection on it. There’s a reason for that. This bridge is one of the things that make New Orleans so unique.
It also doesn’t hurt that one of the best dates of my life was spent seeing the bridge from all kinds of angles I had no idea even existed. (He’s kind of a big deal :)
I absolutely love it.

I could have sworn I reviewed the Crescent City Connection aka the CCC aka C³, but I guess I didn’t.
Now, you would think that I would give the CCC 5 big ones since I drive this thing almost every day and there’s no more tolls. Ha, nope! Why am I only giving up 3 stars for this bridge? Um, a few reasons.
#1) The toll booths are still up. It’s time to tear those bad boys down. They make the bridge visually unappealing and they cause traffic.
#2) Coming from the Westbank, on the right there are two or three lanes closed for NO REASON. NONE. There is zero reason for those lanes to be closed. I want to drive in those lanes. Why are they closed? Oh wait, I don’t care. Open them.
#3) Come 4:00, drivers going from the Westbank to the Eastbank go full retard on this thing (Tropic Thunder style). There is no reason for traffic to be backed all the way up at 4:00. Maybe 5 or 6, not 4. I don’t know what’s going on or why it happens, but when I have to leave my house at 4:30 for a 5:30 appointment, that’s not cool. Oh and the traffic starts getting bad at 3 on Fridays. Awesome.
I’m giving a star because I have to drive on this thing all the time and I’m giving one more because there’s no more tolls.

The Crescent City Connection Bridges are my favorite cantilever bridges in the entire world.
Rather than start with the good about this bridge, I will briefly touch on the bad things. The traffic is horrendous at times. This is largely due to capacity issues of the lanes, but commuting home in the afternoons can be particularly difficult, In fact, the commute from the west bank to Claiborne Avenue often takes longer than it does to cross the 24 mile long Causeway Bridge. Traffic issues aside, I truly love these bridges, and here’s why.
Growing up on the west bank I had to cross the bridges nearly every day from the time I was in 8^th grade. Back then there was actually only one bridge and the commute to school took 1.5 hours. That brutal commute was made slightly easier since I was riding with my dad and best friend and we learned all sorts of back roads and shortcuts from home to the CCC. After only a year or so of that commute, the second bridge opened to traffic.
My first trip over the bridge was so smooth and traffic free that I wondered aloud if it would always be this easy to go to the east bank. How foolish I was. Since the opening of the second bridge in 1989, traffic has gotten considerably worse. OK, now for the good stuff.
I have driven across this bridge thousands of times. Despite that, every time I see these bridges, whether from afar or from the bridges themselves, I smile. I have so many memories here, both good and bad, but these bridges have had a huge role in my life. My absolute favorite view of the bridges is from across the lake in Lacombe. On a clear night it’s somewhat easy to see the lights glowing atop the CCC, even though I am more than 25 miles away. It always reminds me of the city I love and how those lights represent New Orleans. Show anyone a photo of those decorative lights and they will immediately know it’s the CCC.
I love the fact that we have two bridges, but Baton Rouge only has one. Sure it’s a cantilever bridge and the view from the levee is awesome, but just like Nola is better than BR, our bridges are better too.
Another really cool feature about the CCC is that it features the state’s only HOV lane. I don’t think it really serves its intended purpose of reducing traffic, but we’ve got one and you don’t.
The thing that most people love about the CCC is that it is now toll free. That fact hasn’t really reduced traffic very much, but it does sure save westbankers .40 a crossing. Since the sunset of tolls, I’ve noticed a whole lot more Bentlys and Lamborhinis during my commute. Surely that is a result of the money saved from not having to pay tolls.
I could go on and on about my love for these bridges, but I won’t. In summary, these are the most beautiful bridges in the state, and they represent New Orleans well. Next time you’re stuck in traffic on one, take a minute, or 30, to admire this steal behemoth.

This is my least favorite bridge in the NOLA metro area!
In the morning times it is a real breeze. Little or no traffic right around 6 – 7 o’clock. However in the evening times it is absolutely terrible. Traffic usually backed up to Terry Parkway and sometimes out to Stumpf BLVD.
One of the reasons why the traffic is so bad is because of the many wrecks that happen on this bridge. I fully understand that there are a lot of terrible drivers in this city. I even understand that people drive real fast and then slam their brakes which can contribute to accidents.
The other reason traffic is so bad is because of all the vehicles that break down on the road. I have no clue as to why on average 5 – 6 vehicles break down everyday around evening time on that bridge. I mean you never see that on the Huey P Long bridge.
In short this is a big bridge with big traffic problems.

Without tolls, this bridge is a lot more fun.
There are two components I need to review: the view and the drive.
A) The view. Maybe the CCC is ugly to the untrained eye, but I am a discerning consumer who loves the view of the bridge all lit up at night. It’s part of the New Orleans skyline, and I think it’s vital to understanding our beautiful city. Scanning from the Dome and the CBD to the CCC with a beer in hand is a stunning introduction to the city. It’s also a great way to really «feel home.» Get beer, view skyline, sigh happily. Many thanks to the YLC crowd for spearheading the relighting of the bridge. That’s the 5 star part of the review.
B) The drive. It’s not perfect. It’s a bottleneck of terrible sometimes, actually. (See also: the day John LH and I were stuck in the same parking lot situation and were trying to out «old lady» each other but were only using our cell phones when our cars were at a stop. We got a lot of comments in despite technically being driving.) The barriers on the sides of the bridge are high enough that we can’t see over them to enjoy the view, but I think that’s a safety perk. Safety first! Still better and less scary than the Huey. :shudder: 2 stars.
Save your dollar, enjoy the view (from the ground), and don’t grump about the traffic at rush hour.
Accessibility notes: none necessary.

No tolls. No pot of poorly supervised monies for politically connected leaches to give to their friends. Anyway. I always did like the idea that you could travel to the Westbank for free, but had to pay to leave to return to the Eastbank. Classic bait and switch. Or you could consider it was adding insult to injury that you had to pay for the right to drive to work downtown. Either way, whether the glass is half full or half empty, the bridge is quite functional for being one of the busier bridges in the States.

Looove this bridge, especially at night!
It’s very much an icon of New Orleans.
No tolls anymore either, wohoo! I wish there was a pedestrian walkway on this bridge, although that would be really scary… it’d be fun to look at the city and the river from the bridge.

This is a bridge. The annoying bottleneck of my daily commute. I hate this bridge only because with the zillion lanes that used to be toll booths, we have a pointless bottleneck that eats up 15 minutes of my day one way most days.
BUT, bonus, it is often featured in movies, and there is a certain pride that goes along with saying, «THATS THE CONNECTION!!!, I DRIVE THAT MONSTER EVRYDAY!»

No tolls = smoother commute = upgrade to 5 stars.
Yes, going to the Eastbank is still a bit slow during rush hour, but remember, it used to be slow ALL THE TIME.
Now it is smooth sailing on weekends and for most of the day on weekdays (unless someone does something stupid like blow a tire in a center lane — ugh).
Also, if anyone from the CCC is reading this review, I will gladly help out, free of charge, with the demolition of the toll plaza. Just give me a sledgehammer.
Oh, and another reason for 5 stars? The view. Ride across the CCC at night, as a passenger, and take a good look at that NOLA skyline. It’s beautiful, and the bridge offers an excellent view.

This bridge is a staple of New Orleans. It separates the West Bank from the East Bank of New Orleans. It crosses the mighty, muddy Mississippi!!! It separates Algiers from the rest of New Orleans. Depending on whom you speak to from New Orleans, they will let you know that their side of the bridge, or water as commonly refereed from locals, is the better of the two Banks.
Let me squash all rumors right here. The West Bank is the best bank. There… it is official, game over!!! If one doubts my assessment, what other rationale would the city use to make you pay, at most, $ 1 to leave the West Bank, in order to visit the East Bank? I would deduce they figured if you are crazy enough to leave the good olé West Bank, then you definitely will be crazy enough to give up that $ 1 each time. Understand… there is no charge to go to the West Bank… only leaving it! Game over locals!
The toll has been suspended for now, and I hope they keep it that way. Why you may ask. Well, when I graduated from high school in 1995, that was several years past the time to whereas they were suppose to been end us paying to go to the East Bank! You forward almost two decades later, and they finally did away with the toll! Needless to say this money maker was well overdue to have the plug pulled!
All in all, there is not much to say about a bridge, unless it is a cool bridge like the CCC!

Ok, my parents live on the wank so every week you’ll see me driving across this bridge (thank GOD for the «new» bridge because the last one was scary and goodness knows I avoid the Huey P. Long because I value my life). It’s like I was back in college/​grad school because I come to wash my car, do my laundry, steal their cooked and uncooked food etc.
The CCC is a great bridge when there isn’t any traffic. I especially like the «newer» part because it has nice expansive lanes. The old bridge was so cramped and narrow it was terrifying!
I REALLY love the HOV lane! Ok, if you ever have to travel to the Westbank, get a toll tag, no questions asked. You zip through the line for the toll tag, and if you have a passenger or a man dummy torso like my Dad got me when I was in college (don’t ask, he even named the torso and put one of my LSU shirts on it, frightening, I know!) then you get to use the HOV lane and zip by as people on the bridge give you the stink eye!
Besides, a toll tag gives you a discount. Even if the toll tag doesn’t scan and they send you a ticket with a fine (even though you have money on your toll tag) then you can still call (and people will actually answer and then rectify the situation).

First let me clarify, I love most alllll things about the Greater New Orleans Area, except this bridge. I dislike having to not only pay the toll, but to have to WAIT in a über super mega long line to do so, no matter the time, day or night!!!
When I was younger this toll business was supposed to be temporary, just to pay for the bridge, but by now this bridge has been paid for 3 or 4xs over.
Not withstanding the fact that no matter when you are trying to exit the westbank, there seems to be only 4 lanes open for non-​toll tag drivers and 15 million open for toll-​tag drivers. I mean really…

Also known as the Greater New Orleans Bridge, the GNO and the CCC this is the largest span over the mighty Mississippi in the New Orleans area. And it’s a good bridge, lots of lanes, not too sway-​ey scary.
It costs a buck to go from the westbank to the eastbank but not the other way. You can buy a toll tag… whatever you do DO NOT get in a tolltag lane without a tag, mayhem and expensive tickets ensue. Also stop & get change so you actually have a single on you, I hate waiting for the attendants to break a 20.
I am not a daily commuter and the 2 bridge system is so much better than the old single bridge.