The Old Mississippi River Bridge at Vicksburg was built from 1928 to 1930 as a combination railroad bridge and vehicular bridge. It was built as a part of U.S. Highway 80, which was one of the first coast-to-coast highways in the United States. It was the first bridge over the Mississippi River south of Memphis. Although it no longer carries vehicular traffic, it is still a vitally important railroad bridge. It was designated a Mississippi Landmark on 4 August 1987. It was listed on the National Register on 14 February 1989, as one of the components of the "Historic Bridges of Mississippi," a thematic group nomination prepared by Jack Elliott, historical archaeologist of MDAH. See also http://www.johnweeks.com/river_mississippi/pages/lmiss08.html |