Southern Tier Section 6 Map 87 bridge out (2021 route); any recommended detour?

[stevey]

Just east of New Orleans on the revised route on the 2021 map, it appears a bridge has been out since spring on route 90 over the Pearl River area, in the section between New Orleans and Pearlington.
Here's a local article: https://www.nola.com/news/traffic/article_8d704ce0-076b-11ed-807a-5f380e9c4f61.html
The two crossings north are Interstates, requiring a 100-mile detour if biking, according to my ridewithGPS mapping (see attached).
Has anyone found a better detour? I wonder how the ACA tour this fall plans to navigate it.
Sorry if I missed mention of this in my searches, but I don't find it here nor on the updates page online.

[John Nettles]

This may be one of those situations where you can still cross the bridge on a bike.  It doesn't even sound like it is being worked on as they evaluate what to do.  If I were going to ride this route again, I would call or email and get the current status and if it is being worked on.  Also, maybe call a local business (one right at the bridge) and see what they say.  If it is not being worked on but it is still up, I personally would cross it. 

Otherwise, it looks like you would have to bypass New Orleans, i.e ride the original route  .
Tailwinds, John

[stevey]

This may be one of those situations where you can still cross the bridge on a bike.  It doesn't even sound like it is being worked on as they evaluate what to do.  If I were going to ride this route again, I would call or email and get the current status and if it is being worked on.  Also, maybe call a local business (one right at the bridge) and see what they say.  If it is not being worked on but it is still up, I personally would cross it. 

Otherwise, it looks like you would have to bypass New Orleans, i.e ride the original route  .
Tailwinds, John

Thanks, John. Great advice. From the photos in the article I attached, it looks like there are Jersey barriers across with no room for even a thin pedestrian. But we will call around first. My wife/stoker says if all else fails she'll sweet-talk some pickup driver to take us across on I-10!

[John Nettles]

Oh, I would think you could lift the tandem over the barrier.  Might be a PIA and have to take off all the packs but probably a lot quicker than a ride plus the traffic should be pretty light due to the closure. 

Are you on tour now or just planning ahead?  If planning, it might become "under construction" by fall then you start the verification process all over again. 

Tailwinds, John

[amywally]

ACA has reached out to the Louisiana Department of Transportation, but has not received a response regarding this situation.

In the meantime, we recommend getting a ride in a vehicle across I-10 around the closure.

Don's Taxi Service (985-290-1525) has a Honda CR-V that can fit 1 bicycle in the back with the seats folded down.

For groups up to 3, you can rent a Uhaul (www.uhaul.com) to carry you and your bikes from New Orleans/Chalmette, LA to Waveland/Bay St. Louis, MS. Each truck has a bench seat which can fit 3 individuals.

You could also try to find an Uber that is able to carry you and your bike.

We will continue to post updates as we receive more information.

Amy Wally
ACA Cartographer

[amywally]

UPDATE: I just got off the phone with the Louisiana Department of Transportation. It doesn't look good. Bridges have severe deterioration, need $250 million worth of repairs, no funding, no bike detour, no bike shuttle, no estimated completion date. It could potentially be years before US 90 reopens.

We are still recommending the taxi/Uber/Uhaul alternative, but we are working with a local biker to help us create a cycling detour which will likely go up through Bogalusa and cross the Pearl River on SR 10/26. Check back for updates.

Amy Wally
ACA Cartographer

[amywally]

ACA has designed a 117-mile detour to avoid the condemned bridge. It begins near Slidell, LA and ends in Pass Christian, MS. It crosses the Pearl River in Bogalusa. The highways in Louisiana generally have good shoulders, but the highways in Mississippi have narrow to non-existent shoulders. We tried to use backroads as much as possible.

See maps of the detour below. The RideWithGPS maps include services along the detour.

Eastbound: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40912203
Westbound: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40941288

If you have already purchased the Southern Tier digital data (gpx files) from us, you can access this new detour for free by logging into your MyAdventureCycling account, navigating to your Purchased GPS Map Files, and clicking "Download" to receive the updated gpx data package. There are no services for the detour included in the gpx package.

If you have already purchased the Southern Tier in the Bicycle Route Navigator app, you can access this new detour for free by selecting Menu>Settings>Download New Map Versions. There are no services included for the detour in the app.

If you would rather ride the old 2019 Southern Tier routing (direct from New Roads, LA to Bogalusa, LA, skipping New Orleans, 125 miles), you can find maps of that routing below. Be aware that we did discontinue this routing in 2021 because of issues with limited/poor services, poor road surfaces, and dogs. This old routing connects to the detour described above in Bogalusa, which then connects to Pass Christian and back to the existing main Southern Tier Route.

Eastbound: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40945023
Westbound: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40945038

[stevey]

OP here.
Thanks so much for this work, Amy!
I'm just catching up on this forum, having set off on the Southern Tier with my stoker on the tandem after biking to the Mexican border from SF. Last week, we chanced upon the ACA ST group--and the hospitable leaders Ankur and Tammy--in Alpine, Calif., and again in Ocotillo, and we hit Phoenix yesterday. This detour info will be hugely useful down the road.
One thought: Any chance the authorities (federal? state?) could be persuaded to designate the critical I-10 section as cyclists-allowed? We've just ridden multiple miles on cyclist-approved sections of I-10 and I-8 in section 1 of the ACA ST route, so why not this small stretch of I-10?

[amywally]

There are three bridges on I-10 over the Pearl River where the shoulder narrows or completely disappears. Even if biking on the interstate was legal here, we do not recommend it for safety reasons. It would be extremely dangerous. I-10 sees a high amount of traffic, and a large percentage of that is semi-trucks.

[stevey]

Ah, OK. Thanks for the explanation.

[jamawani]

Stevey -

I am working on a detailed reply.
In the meantime, y'all are going west-to-east, right?
East-to-west would be a little easier - i.e. asking at the Mississippi Welcome Center which is at an exit.
The Louisiana Welcome Center is on the interstate itself.
There is the option of begging a ride at one of the large gas stations at US 11 & I-10.

Another option is to hire a boat -
Pearl River Swamp Tours may take you over to La France Marina in Mississippi.
https://www.pearlriverswamptours.com/
Or Mardi Gras Fishing Charters.
http://www.mardigrasfishingcharters.com/
It would be expensive, but a pleasant variation if you can afford it.

Amtrak has not served this route for about 20 years.
You can take the Greyhound bus, but you have to box your bike - not sure about tandems.
Plus Greyhound charges extra for all your panniers.

>> There is a Warmshowers host in Slidell.
https://www.warmshowers.org/users/cyclesojourner

But La DOT and Miss DOT should have a shuttle.
Cyclists shouldn't have to fork out $100 or go an extra 100 miles.

Buena Suerte! - Juan

[stevey]

Thanks, Juan. Yes west-to-east. My stoker is convince she can sweet-talk a pickup driver to take us over. I was pondering the U-Haul option. But a boat does sound like it might be a rewarding option! I’ll have to give them a call.
Do let me know if you have other ideas.
I agree that the DOTs—and the US DOT—should provide a shuttle or other option. We pay our taxes just like drivers do, and we should expect services.

[stevey]

We just crossed this closed section of 90 two days ago with no trouble. Several locals assured us ahead of time that people bike and jog there, skirting the barriers, so we decided to chance it. We were at the “Road Closed” sign at the western bridge when a pickup driver approached us and told us “you can get through, no problem,” so we did.
Here’s our instagram post of the day @KarenSteveTandem
https://www.instagram.com/p/ClPqWkcrOjA/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[Housecaz]

Thanks for this info!

I’m headed westbound to Pass Christian today and will update tomorrow if I am able to pass the bridges.

We just crossed this closed section of 90 two days ago with no trouble. Several locals assured us ahead of time that people bike and jog there, skirting the barriers, so we decided to chance it. We were at the “Road Closed” sign at the western bridge when a pickup driver approached us and told us “you can get through, no problem,” so we did.
Here’s our instagram post of the day @KarenSteveTandem
https://www.instagram.com/p/ClPqWkcrOjA/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[Housecaz]

Totally passable 12/13/22