This Bridge Stretches 24 Miles Across Louisiana Waters (S9, E37) | Modern Marvels | Full Episode
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Engineering Triumph: The Prefabricated Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
Discover the revolutionary prestressed concrete technology that enabled the construction of the world's longest over-water bridge, spanning 24 miles across Lake Pontchartrain. Learn how modular, high-strength components allowed completion four months ahead of schedule.
Short Summary
- Achieve 24-mile traversal across Lake Pontchartrain using revolutionary precast concrete sections.
- Employ prestressing technology to give concrete high tensile strength, solving structural weakness issues inherent in standard construction.
- Mass-produce components like piles and slabs using specialized methods (Cenviro process) for unprecedented efficiency.
- Established essential transportation and evacuation routes, linking New Orleans swiftly to the North Shore communities.
This segment details the engineering breakthrough behind the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. It focuses heavily on Maxwell Upson's application of prestressed concrete, which allowed for the fabrication of massive, durable, prefabricated beams and pilings necessary to cross the shallow but vast lake. The resulting structure significantly cut commute times and provided crucial hurricane escape routes.
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Top Comments (10)
Remember when you could actually learn things from the history channel?! They need to eliminate all the new bs and bring back this type of programming!
I was shrimping about 500 yards away from the causeway the other day and caught 70 pounds of huge white shrimp.
I live 20 miles from the Causeway. It's taken for granted every time we cross it 😮
The guy foreshadowing hurricane Katrina at 28:11 is crazy
Louisiana is such a beautiful state! It is only a poor state because its governor and most politicians are so corrupt.
Went over this bridge multiple times a week. Lived on both sides
watching this as a civil engineer in 2025, all I can say is wow! 😮
Love Modern Marvels? Stay up to date on all of your favorite The HISTORY Channel shows at http://history.com/schedule.
I used to be able to watch Modern Marvel's but the network here in Cleveland pulled it off the air. So I watch it here.
It look nine seasons and 37 episodes for them to finally cover this bridge?
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Top Comments (10)
Remember when you could actually learn things from the history channel?! They need to eliminate all the new bs and bring back this type of programming!
I was shrimping about 500 yards away from the causeway the other day and caught 70 pounds of huge white shrimp.
I live 20 miles from the Causeway. It's taken for granted every time we cross it 😮
The guy foreshadowing hurricane Katrina at 28:11 is crazy
Louisiana is such a beautiful state! It is only a poor state because its governor and most politicians are so corrupt.
Went over this bridge multiple times a week. Lived on both sides
watching this as a civil engineer in 2025, all I can say is wow! 😮
Love Modern Marvels? Stay up to date on all of your favorite The HISTORY Channel shows at http://history.com/schedule.
I used to be able to watch Modern Marvel's but the network here in Cleveland pulled it off the air. So I watch it here.
It look nine seasons and 37 episodes for them to finally cover this bridge?