Lake Charles Drivers Still Obsessed With I-10 Bridge Pistols

There’s just something about the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles that sticks with you. Folks around here either love it, hate it, or hold their breath the whole way across it. But no matter what side you’re on, one thing’s for sure… that bridge is part of Southwest Louisiana history.

And if you grew up around here, you probably heard somebody say it at least once…

“Count the pistols!”

How Many Pistols are on the I10 Calcasieu River Bridge?

Now we ain’t talking about regular bridge parts. The I-10 bridge actually has crossed pirate pistols built into the metal design along the sides of the bridge. Yep… real crossed pistol shapes. Supposedly there were originally 5,286 of them across the whole bridge.

I still remember being a kid riding across with my dad. He’d tell me to count the pistols while he flew across that bridge at about 70 miles an hour. Of course I’d lose count almost immediately. Ain’t no kid alive counting that fast while flying over the Calcasieu River.

But ever since then, I’ve been fascinated with that bridge.

I drive across it every single morning headed to the Gator 99.5 studios, and even now I still catch myself looking over at those crossed pistols thinking about how many people have crossed that thing over the years.

That bridge has seen hurricanes, evacuations, first dates, road trips, family vacations, Mardi Gras traffic, and probably millions of nervous drivers gripping the steering wheel for dear life.

And let’s be honest… there’s definitely a few pistols missing these days. I ain’t got time to stop and count every one of ’em, but you can tell the years have taken a toll. Still, to me, that bridge is more than steel and concrete. It’s part of who we are around here.

That’s why I kinda hope when the new bridge finally takes over, somebody remembers what made the old one special.

Honestly, Louisiana oughta auction off some of those old crossed pistols when they tear it down. Or maybe donate them for charity fundraisers around Southwest Louisiana. Could you imagine having an original crossed pistol from the I-10 bridge hanging in your shop, camp, or outdoor kitchen? Folks would talk about that thing forever.

All I know is this… if it wasn’t probably illegal and maybe worth a quick trip to jail, me and my grinder might already be out there trying to “borrow” a pair before they disappear forever.