If you have noticed the historic A-Truss Bridge, located north of Sam’s Town Casino on your way into downtown, you have likely seen that the area around the bridge has been cleared.  Miller Tree Service completed their work recently.  The next step will be a structural assessment. This Bridge is listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places and is a window into Shreveport’s past.


Respecting History: A Truss Bridge Preservation Funded

When there is just two of anything in the entire United States, it is a big deal, and Shreveport is fortunate to have one.  What’s the one….A railroad bridge: the Waddell A-Truss that spans Cross Bayou to the north of Sam’s Town Casino.  This important connection to the past was constructed in 1896.  It couldn’t sustain active commerce as railcars became heavier and so by 1915 it was almost obsolete.  In 1991 KCS donated the bridge to the City of Shreveport and saved it from demolition.  The National Park Services certainly acknowledges the importance of this bridge is listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places.  Thanks to a committee of dedicated volunteers and funding from a generous donor, Miller Tree Service has been hired to clear the land to provide access to the bridge.  Step 2 will be to have a structural analysis completed.

Photo by Warren D. Caileff, Jr.

The A Truss Bridge as it looks today

 

Janie Landry
Author: Janie Landry