I can now say with a smile I drove across the original Jimmie Davis Bridge over the Red River that was built in 1968 connecting Shreveport and Bossier City that is scheduled for renovations in early 2016. This is the latest of numerous delays that have plagued repairing this bridge which has long been ear marked as «Structurally deficient». Having said that there is no need to panic or take a detour, this doesn’t mean a bridge is unsafe. It simply means one or more components of a bridge are in need of repairs or replacement. As an engineer I fully understand the need for refurbishment, not only for safety but also for preservation and after crossing this aging monument with its rusting riveted truss I was stunned to hear that this bridge is not considered to be «Historically Significant» and it’s new purposed purple paint makeover will mask the nostalgic patina that gives this bridge such presence.(This is almost criminal) I would love to see this bridge preserved with a rust treating clear coat so it could look as it does now for a few more generations. So how is it that a bridge built using a long abandoned design that reflects the beauty of an era gone by can be anything but historically significant, especially one that carries the name of one of Louisiana’s most popular governors known as the«singing governor» who rode a horse up the steps of the capital to go to work. Jimmie Davis Bridge is the southernmost of five bridges spanning the«Historic» Red River in the Shreveport-Bossier area and as I drove across it with my windows rolled down much as they did in the day I swore I heard the lyrics of this Jimmie Davis historically significant song… You are my sunshine, My only sunshine. You make me happy When skies are grey. You’ll never know, dear, How much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away. Lastly I must thank the tiny federally protected«barn swallows» who call the underside of this bridge home for standing up to the bureaucracy and causing the delays in construction until I could experience this historic drive
Billy Joe J.
Place rating: 5 Shreveport, LA
This is a two lane, two way steel through truss bridge built in 1968 and named for former governor and famed musician Jimmie«You Are My Sunshine» Davis. It runs over the Red River. This bridge also has a cameo in the 2011 Nicolas Cage-Amber Heard vehicle(pun!) and by that I mean, film, «Drive Angry». As there are car crashes seen in this film as well as vehicles plunging off this bridge in action scenes and car chases from this movie. This bridge will be closing soon for renovations(ugh) as well as a new coat of paint, the color of which can be voted on in an online contest by the general public.(Go Green!) You can cast your vote here: C’mon Green!!!
