The E.J. “Lionel” Grizzaffi Bridge (Highway 90) on the left and the Long–Allen Bridge (Highway 182) on the right in Morgan City, LA (photo by Kenn Stearns)

Two passenger vehicle bridges span the Atchafalaya River to connect Morgan City, Louisiana with Berwick. The E.J. “Lionel” Grizzaffi Bridge (Highway 90) is a cantilever bridge named for a member of the Louisiana state house of representatives from 1948 to 1952. The Long–Allen Bridge (Highway 182) is a truss bridge named for Louisiana governors Huey Pierce Long, Jr. and Oscar Kelly (“O.K.”) Allen, Sr.

O.K. Allen, the 42nd governor of Louisiana from 1932 to 1964, earned his nickname for saying “okay” to Huey “Kingfish” Long who was the 40th governor of Louisiana from 1928 to 1932 and a U.S. senator from 1932 to 1935. At the peak of his popularity, Long was shot at the Louisiana State Capitol and died of internal bleeding two days later on September 10, 1935. Some believe Carl Austin Weiss, a young physician, assassinated Long. Others believe Weiss punched Long in the mouth and a stray bullet from bodyguards struck Long. Weiss was shot 61 times by Long’s bodyguards.

During his four-year term as governor, Long built more than 100 bridges and increased the mileage of paved highways in Louisiana to 2,301 from 331.