| This is the Kansas City Southern bridge across the Red River at Latanier, Louisiana, as seen from the west side of the river. The bridge was built as a part of the Federal project to create a navigation channel 9 feet deep and 200 feet wide between the Mississippi River and Shreveport. The government was going to replace the railroad’s existing swing span between Alexandria and Pineville – which had been built in 1901 – with a vertical lift span; but the railroad wanted a high-level fixed bridge, so this structure was built four miles south of Alexandria. Trains began using this bridge in January 1996 and the old bridge was removed in April-May 1996. |