Atchafalaya, Louisiana Speed Traps

Do not exceed the speed limit while traveling across the 22-mile long Basin Bridge. Most of the bridge is 60 mph. During a recent visit to Lafayette from Jacksonville Florida, I got pulled over for 65 mph. Our friends in Lafayette informed me that the Troopers look for the out-of-state vehicles. During our two trips across the bridge we saw two Troopers on both sides of the bridge with cars pulled over. With my ticket the Trooper informed me I could call the number on the ticket, pay the fine and it would not be reported to my home state. Stick to 60 mph on the bridge.

I always wondered how others got caught speeding along the two-lane bridge seeing as how it has no shoulders. But I got caught speeding and when the State Trooper pulled me over at the end of the bridge, he told me the exact speed I was going without error and then informed that me they were conducting aerial surveillance. He was waiting, so it’s safe to assume they do this often and have a trooper wait to catch people. There are no signs warning you of aerial surveillance as I have seen before along the Florida Turnpike, so treat the entire bridge as a trap.

On Interstate 10, between mile marker ~118 and 135. This is a 22 mile long bridge crossing the Atchafalaya Basin Swamp.

It’s a 60 mph auto/55 mph truck zone for the entire bridge. State troopers strictly enforce the limits using conventional radar and as of Spring 2010, I have seen them gathering multiple cruisers, with one of them standing outside of his, and aiming what appear to be a Laser detector at oncoming traffic.

The trucks no longer speed after huge accidents have killed many. They do not drive 56 mph! Motorists fare a little better, but not by much. Drive the speed limit of 60, and enjoy the scenery.