1952 Press Photo Bonnet Carre Spillway protects New Orleans from high river

Bonnet Carre Spillway, completed in 1936 at the site of many nineteenth century crevasses, has been used three times to protect the city of New Orleans against high river stages. It stands ready for use again whenever needed. Designed to carry off directly to Lake Pontchartrain 250,000 cubic feet of floodwater per second, it has a weir structure 7000 feet long consisting of 350 20-foot concrete bays. Creosoted timber needles close out the river, but can be removed in short order by overhead cranes. This spillway cost about $14,000,000.

Photo is dated 1952.

Photo measures 10 x 8.25 inches.