The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, a pair of parallel bridges spanning Lake Pontchartrain in southern Louisiana, eventually implemented a toll system for passage. Initially, crossing the bridge was free of charge to motorists.
The introduction of tolls on this vital transportation link served to provide funding for ongoing maintenance, infrastructure improvements, and operational costs associated with managing the extensive bridge structure. Prior to the assessment of fees, alternative funding models were utilized, often relying on state or federal government allocations. The shift to a toll-based system established a more direct relationship between bridge users and the financial resources needed to sustain the thoroughfare’s usability and safety.
