Bayou Teche Bridge at Oaklawn-BRIDGE HAS BEEN REMOVED AND TRANSFERRED TO A NEW OWNER.

To watch an 11 minute video on its relocation, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz_cwGZXUdk

		Map It

Description of the Bridge
The Bayou Teche Bridge at Oaklawn (Structure Number 03514083000201) was formerly located on LA 323 between LA 87 and Parish Road 28/Irish Bend Road was constructed circa 1942 and is a one lane, low steel truss (Warren) swing span.

National Register Eligibility
The bridge was determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C as the earliest surviving Warren Polygonal truss, low swing-span bridge constructed on the Bayou Teche during World War II, and under Criterion A as the cost of bridge construction was split three ways among the Louisiana Department of Highways, the St. Mary Parish Police Jury, and Oaklawn and Sterling Plantation owners at that time, which was a unique situation and remains rare.

Status of the Bridge
The bridge has been removed from the state highway system and has been transferred to its new owner on private property.  The new owner plans to make it avaialble for pubic viewing in the near future. 

Dimensions of the Bridge
The bridge is 314 feet long by 15 feet wide. The swing span portion of the bridge is 162 feet long, and consists of the two steel trusses, swing mechanism, wood deck (consisting of timber planks with pieces of hatched steel plate down the tire lines), stringers that support the deck, floor beams to which the stringers are attached, and lateral bracing that runs between the floor beams.

Photograph of the Bridge

Vicinity Map Showing Location of Bridge


As-Built Plans for Bayou Teche Bridge at Oaklawn