Gramercy Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Gramercy Bridge is a cantilever bridge
over the Mississippi River
connecting Gramercy, Louisiana
in St. James Parish with St. John the Baptist Parish
. This is the newest Mississippi River bridge in Louisiana (until the completion of the John James Audubon Bridge
), one of many built to replace the ferry
system following a 1976 accident
that killed 78 when a ferry sank after being struck by a ship. While the Veterans Memorial Bridge has not transformed the local economy as extensively as its upriver cousin, the Sunshine Bridge
, the farming industry has benefited from the quicker river crossing.
The bridge and its approaches are Louisiana Highway 3213 (LA 3213), which runs 3.79 miles (6.10 km) from Louisiana Highway 18
on the west bank north over the bridge, past an interchange
with Louisiana Highway 44, to its terminus at Louisiana Highway 641. (LA 641 continues north across U.S. Highway 61 (Airline Highway
) to Interstate 10.)
LA 3213 now extends from the bridge to LA 3127 on a two lane roadway that crosses over railroad tracks about halfway down the road.
albeit transplaced to New Orleans
Cantilever bridge
A cantilever bridge is a bridge built using cantilevers, structures that project horizontally into space, supported on only one end. For small footbridges, the cantilevers may be simple beams; however, large cantilever bridges designed to handle road or rail traffic use trusses built from...
over the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
connecting Gramercy, Louisiana
Gramercy, Louisiana
Gramercy is a town in St. James Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,066 at the 2000 census.-History:Gramercy was originally an Indian and French settlement and trading post. In 1739, much of the area which is now known as Gramercy was sold to Joseph Delille Dupart, Commissioner...
in St. James Parish with St. John the Baptist Parish
St. John the Baptist parish
St. John the Baptist parish may refer to one of a number of religious organisations:In the district of Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland:* The Church of Ireland Parish of Clontarf* The senior Parish of Clontarf...
. This is the newest Mississippi River bridge in Louisiana (until the completion of the John James Audubon Bridge
John James Audubon Bridge (Mississippi River)
The John James Audubon Bridge is a new Mississippi River crossing between Pointe Coupee and West Feliciana parishes in south central Louisiana. The bridge is the longest cable-stayed span in the Western Hemisphere and replaces the ferry between the communities of New Roads and St. Francisville...
), one of many built to replace the ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
system following a 1976 accident
MV George Prince ferry disaster
The MV George Prince ferry disaster was a nautical disaster that occurred in the Mississippi River in Louisiana, United States, on the morning of . The ferry George Prince was struck by the Norwegian tanker SS Frosta, which was traveling upriver...
that killed 78 when a ferry sank after being struck by a ship. While the Veterans Memorial Bridge has not transformed the local economy as extensively as its upriver cousin, the Sunshine Bridge
Sunshine Bridge
The Sunshine Bridge is a cantilever bridge over the Mississippi River in St. James Parish, Louisiana. Completed in 1963, it carries LA 70, which connects Donaldsonville on the west bank of Ascension Parish with Sorrento on the east bank of Ascension Parish as well as with Gonzales on the east bank...
, the farming industry has benefited from the quicker river crossing.
The bridge and its approaches are Louisiana Highway 3213 (LA 3213), which runs 3.79 miles (6.10 km) from Louisiana Highway 18
Louisiana Highway 18
Louisiana Highway 18 is a state highway in Louisiana that serves Ascension, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Charles, and Jefferson Parishes. Called the Great River Road, it runs from west to east, parallel to the west bank of the Mississippi River, running from Donaldsonville to Gretna. It...
on the west bank north over the bridge, past an interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
with Louisiana Highway 44, to its terminus at Louisiana Highway 641. (LA 641 continues north across U.S. Highway 61 (Airline Highway
Airline Highway
Airline Highway is a divided highway in the U.S. state of Louisiana, built in the 1930s and 1940s to bypass the older Jefferson Highway. It carries U.S. Highway 61 from New Orleans northwest to Baton Rouge, and U.S. Highway 190 from Baton Rouge west over the Mississippi River on the Huey P. Long...
) to Interstate 10.)
LA 3213 now extends from the bridge to LA 3127 on a two lane roadway that crosses over railroad tracks about halfway down the road.
In popular culture
Gramercy Bridge was used in the final level of video game Left 4 Dead 2Left 4 Dead 2
Left 4 Dead 2 is a cooperative first-person shooter video game. It is the sequel to Valve Corporation's award-winning Left 4 Dead. The game launched on November 17, 2009, for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 in the United States and November 20 in Europe; in 2010, Left 4 Dead 2 was made available to...
albeit transplaced to New Orleans