Highway 80 Bridge / Old Vicksburg Bridge
This elegant 8,500-foot cantilevered through-truss bridge spans the Mississippi River just north of the I-20 bridge (1973). It is typical of the combined rail / highway bridges of that era, although the highway crossing was presumably closed when the Interstate bridge opened.
On 11 February 1926, Harry E. Bovay proposed the idea for the bridge to local businessmen. A few months later on 3 May 1926, Congress authorized the Vicksburg Bridge and Terminal Company to build the bridge. On 11 February 1928, The Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad (part of the Illinois Central system) leased the railroad portion, and construction began on 6 March 1928.
The $8.5 million project was completed on 27 April 1930, remarkably with no construction fatalities. The bridge opened to vehicular traffic on 28 April 1930, and the first train crossed a few days later on 1 May. This was the first highway or railroad bridge that opened south of Memphis, beating the Huey P. Long bridge in New Orleans by five years.
The Mississippi welcome center is adjacent to the bridge on the east bank of the river, giving an excellent view of the bridge. The area also includes Navy Circle, which is part of the Vicksburg National Military Park commemorating this site of a crucial battle during the American Civil War.
Mississippi welcome sign
Old and current Vicksburg Bridges
Highway 80 bridge, east bank railroad approach
Highway 80 bridge, east bank highway approach
Highway 80 bridge, east bank highway approach
Navy Circle, Vicksburg National Military Park
Gibralter of the Confederacy
Highway 80 bridge
Highway 80 bridge
US Battery Benton
US Battery Benton
Canon and bridges
Panorama (video)
Me and the bridges
Historic fence
History of the Highway 80 Bridge at Vicksburg, MS