US 90 eastbound just past the intersection with US 11. It passes through the Venetian Isles area here. 13 miles to Fort Pike and to the Northshore.
Ahead, US 90 prepares to contract to two lanes. This entire area was more vibrant before Katrina struck.
Approaching the truss bridge over Chef Pass. Speed lowers drastically here to 25mph. This bridge and the now-gone Fort Pike Bridge shared the same construction.
This bridge dates back all the way to this road's original designation as LA 2. Although narrow and old, it is truly a sight to behold, especially from within.
The bridge approaches are definitely more modern than the bridge itself. Traffic is heavy here because of the impending threat of Hurricane Gustav. Otherwise, it's usually extremely sparse.
Further up US 90 east, new pavement signals the slight shift in alignment as the highway approaches its new crossing over the Rigolets.
A shot from ground level of the new Rigolets bridge that carries US 90 to the Northshore. Note how high it rises.
Historic Fort Pike, located at the south end of the Rigolets along US 90's old alignment.
Now back on US 90 east, climbing the Rigolets Pass Bridge. The construction does take a few nods from the classic, but is as safe as modern standards allow.
Welcome back to St. Tammany Parish. US 90 descends the bridge, and will meet LA 433 at the end.
At the foot of the bridge, US 90 prepares to intersect LA 433 westbound. LA 433 uses an older routing of US 90 to enter Slidell, and follows this alignment until it encounters US 11.
Traffic bound for LA 433 (Old US 90/11, LA 2) turns left at this intersection. The next highway US 90 encounters is US 190 at White Kitchen.
Between LA 433 and US 190, US 90 travels on a concrete surface dating back to the original construction of the modern routing.
US 90 eastbound encounters US 190's eastern terminus just ahead here in White Kitchen. Sorry for the big RV in the way of the shot.
Traffic bound for Slidell and Covington via US 190 westbound departs to the left here. The next highway you'll encounter on US 90 eastbound will be Mississippi 604, just past the state line in Pearlington. Note the use of Series B on a 2dus - this is new.
Past the intersection with US 190, there are many older-style bridges along US 90 for its remaining distance in Louisiana. This one crosses the West Pearl River.
Here's the second of the line of bridges. This one crosses the Middle River.
Although the bridges look similar, this is not a repeat of the last picture. This is the third one in line between US 190 and the state line.
Here's the fourth one. It crosses the East Middle River.
US 90 crosses the Louisiana/Mississippi state line on this drawbridge. The speed limit reduces to 25 MPH while crossing this bridge.
Welcome to Mississippi. Upon crossing the state line, you immediately enter the southern part of Pearlington.
US 90 eastbound becomes four-lane here after the intersection with MS 607 and remains such for most of its remaining length in Mississippi. The speed limit on this stretch is 65mph.
US 90 passes by the Silver Slipper Casino between the MS 607 intersection and Waveland, the next town along eastbound. Casinos are a common sight along US 90 in Mississippi.
Entering the town of Waveland along US 90 eastbound.
US 90 intersects Waveland Avenue at this traffic light. Taking a right will take you to Waveland Beach.
The next major intersection ahead is the one with MS 43/MS 603.
Here's another trailblazer assembly closer to the intersection. MS 43/MS 603 connects Waveland and nearby Bay St. Louis to Interstate 10.
Taking a left from here on MS 43/MS 603 will take you to Interstate 10, then Kiln (hometown of NFL great Brett Favre). Traffic wishing to go to Picayune but wanting to stay in Mississippi should use MS 43.
Mileage sign after the intersection with MS 43/MS 603. Bay St. Louis is only a mile ahead. Gulfport is 17 miles away, while Biloxi is 25 miles from here.
My passenger on the trip insisted I take this picture of a Mississippi Department of Public Safety vehicle.
Here in Bay Saint Louis, US 90 intersects Blue Meadow Road (left) and Main Street (right).
US 90 intersects Beach Boulevard at the western foot of the new Bay St. Louis bridge.
Climbing the New Bay St. Louis Bridge going eastbound.
The new bridge replaces an older, cramped four-lane bridge that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. This new bridge still has four lanes, but also has full shoulders and bike paths in both directions. As well, this bridge rises high over the Bay, whereas the older bridge was a drawbridge.
Looking east towards Pass Christian at the top of the bridge's rise.
The bridge turns to the south as it closes in on its end.
US 90 descends briefly to land ahead as the New Bay St. Louis Bridge ends.
US 90 ascends again on another bridge. This bridge was built before Katrina, but is much more modern than the now-gone old Bay St. Louis bridge.
US 90 descends again, this time into Pass Christian as it curves back to an east-west orientation.
This section of US 90 was recently resurfaced and re-signed. The larger reassurance shields seen here are new. The new surface stretches from Pass Christian to Biloxi, at the least.
Beaches, seen to the right on this photo, are an extremely common sight between Pass Christian and Biloxi, as US 90 only runs yards away from the Gulf of Mexico.
At the intersection ahead, interests bound for Pass Christian High School should take a left. Aside from that, signs of devastation from Katrina can still be seen on the north side of US 90. After the storm, Pass Christian was virtually destroyed.
This section of US 90 is also designated as the James C. Simpson, Sr. Memorial Highway.
Crossing Market Street in Pass Christian.
Downtown Pass Christian can be accessed ahead.
Another one of the new reassurance shields. To the left, signs of rebuilding.
To the left ahead, Gulf Coast Community College (West Harrison Center) and Coast Episcopal High School can be reached.
Now entering the town of Long Beach. (No, not that one.) Like Pass Christian, Long Beach was also catastrophically damaged during Katrina.
Downtown Long Beach can be reached if you go left at the light ahead. To the left, a very common sight along US 90's coastal portion.
Now crossing Cleveland Avenue, Long Beach Harbor can be reached if you turn right here.
Interests bound for the University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Campus should take a left at the light ahead. To the right, one of many parking bays along US 90 eastbound, for those wanting to take a load off at the beach.
Now entering Gulfport. Roadwork is still in progress here.
Left at this light, you can reach the Seabee Museum, as well as the Naval Construction Battalion Center.
Once you reach Gulfport, you'll find many casinos. If you've got a dollar burning a hole in your pocket, then come down here by all means. (Darkangel does not condone compulsive gambling.)
This overhead walkway is just one example of extravagant casino architecture in this part of Coastal Mississippi.
US 90 carries six lanes here. In this photographer's opinion, it could use more. Fortunately, I made it here while traffic was light. Oh, and if you take a right at the next light, you can get to the Mississippi State Port's West Terminal.
After the tracks, US 90 prepares to intersect US 49, a.k.a. THE single most congested road in Gulfport.
US 49 travels north from here to connect with, among other places, Jackson.
Now past US 49, US 90 continues east to Biloxi.
The next highway encountered along eastbound is MS 605, also connecting from here to I-10.
MS 605 (Cowan-Lorraine Road) goes north from here to connect to MS 67. Note the Interstate trailblazer - it has the state name and small digits.
After the intersection with MS 605, US 90 contracts to four lanes again. Some of Biloxi's casino hotels can be seen in the distance from here.
Here, the four lanes of US 90 are separated by a jersey barrier. (Why the hell are they called jersey barriers anyway?)
Now entering Biloxi. The work on US 90, at the time of this photo, was still unfinished here.
Here, an older reassurance shield for US 90 can still be found. It will likely be replaced as signage through the corridor is upgraded and repaired.
Left at the light, traffic can access the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum. Having been there once for a concert, I can say it's a damn good venue for them.
Past the Coliseum, another reassurance shield can be found. Mississippi at least seems to sign their highways a lot better than Louisiana does.
To the left here, Beauvoir (Confederate President Jefferson Davis's post-war home and presidential library) can be reached. It's still pretty badly damaged from Katrina, though.
Further along US 90, the Treasure Bay Casino can be found. Before Katrina, land-based casinos weren't allowed in Mississippi, so the hotel would be built on land while the casino would be on the water. That changed when Katrina's storm surge drove the boats inland, over the highway and everything.
Here's yet another of the common sight mentioned in an earlier caption - between Pass Christian and Biloxi, one can find a Waffle House every couple of miles.
Reassurance shield for US 90 East found after the Waffle House. Dead serious. Even Waffle House warrants a reassurance shield along this stretch of 90.
This section of US 90 is also designated as the Dr. Gilbert R. Mason, Sr. Memorial Highway.
To the left, the Geroge E. Ohr Arts and Cultural Center can be reached from US 90.
Traffic bound for Keesler AFB can reach it from US 90 by taking a left at the light ahead.
One quarter of a mile ahead, US 90 will encounter the shared beginning of Interstate 110 and Mississippi Highway 15 (southern segment), connecting to I-10 and MS 67. MS 15 is omitted from this BGS.
Just after the BGS, this trailblazer assembly is encountered. Unlike on the BGS, MS 15 is mentioned.
I-110/MS 15 exits from US 90 just past this BGS.
Starting along US 90 westbound at US 190's eastern terminus, we find this reassurance shield with a weird font. Is that Series E or something? (The Comrade confirms this is Series E)
Looking west at the marshlands that line either side of this section of US 90.
US 90 is barely traveled here, except for scenic traffic between New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, as well as fishermen and crabbers, well, fishing and crabbing in the area. The highway can get pretty rough through here.
Your tax dollars at work. Also, welcome to Salt Bayou. This area used to be nothing but fishing camps, but slowly, steadily, upscale subdivisions are encroaching on the area.
This section of US 90 was recently resurfaced and realigned. The intersection with LA 433 (Former US 11/90/LA 2) was also reconfigured.
Just past LA 433 now on US 90, the new Rigolets Pass bridge, rising as far as 72 feet high, looms in the distance. US 90 saw a slight rerouting to meet the new bridge. The lanes are wider, and it also features shoulders that can be used as a travel lane to aid in hurricane evacuations. As well, westbound US 90 assumes the Old Spanish Trail routing here.
Something is missing here...
Standing atop the Rigolets Pass bridge, we can see what's missing - the original Fort Pike bridge, a through truss swing bridge originally constructed in 1930 as a free alternative to the Five-Mile Bridge, which was originally tolled.
Looking toward the northshore now. The bridge originally swung open at the large gap between the single piling and the shoreline. Traffic would have to stop whenever the bridge was opened to allow marine traffic to pass.
Side by side - Extreme left: Historic Fort Pike. Left: Pilings where the Fort Pike bridge once stood. Right: New Rigolets Pass bridge. Construction on the new bridge began before Katrina, but was fast-tracked after the storm damaged the Fort Pike bridge.
Looking west from the Rigolets Pass bridge towards the development along the Northshore east of I-10. Also, a boater is speeding away in the shot. I was aiming to take a pic of the boater.
Welcome to New Orleans. Although this shot is taken miles from what is normally perceived as "the city," in actuality the entire eastbank portion of Orleans Parish is within New Orleans's city limits.
Another shot of US 90 within the easternmost reaches of New Orleans. Recovery is proceeding here at a slow, but steady pace.
New Orleans is still many miles ahead. San Diego, the western extent of the historic Old Spanish Trail (OST) auto trail, whose routing US 90 overlays here, is many MANY miles farther.
I was riding along with Froggie for this shot, and we snapped pictures at the same time. I think he was nabbing a shot of the No Passing Zone sign. So, here's a No Passing Zone sign.
Another No Passing Zone sign, as well as some marshland on the eastern side of US 90. Chef Menteur Pass is ahead.
This is the Chef Menteur Bridge, completed in 1929 as part of an alternative routing to the toll bridge across Lake Ponchartrain. It is a truss swing bridge, similar to the Fort Pike Bridge that once existed. It's cramped both vertically and width-wise, so the low speed limit is necessary.
US 90 continues onward towards New Orleans proper, now cutting through the Venetian Isles area. It expands in capacity to four lanes here, but sees little traffic since Katrina. The area is rebounding, albeit slowly.
Barely visible in this photo is a small green sign: "Junction US 11 1/2 Mile" - all in text.
The southernmost terminus of US 11 approaches. Turn right ahead to reach, among other places, Irish Bayou, Slidell, and Rouses Point, NY. No, I'm not kidding.
This idiot along US 90 (Jefferson Highway) was blocking the damn road trying to make a left turn. Behavior like this is extremely common on the south side of Lake Ponchartrain.
US 90 westbound prepares to junction LA 3046 (Causeway Boulevard).
Hiding in this shot are trailblazers for US 90 West and for LA 3046 (turn right). Look hard enough, you'll find them. :P
