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John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.

He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.

John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.

John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.

He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.

 

A TRUSS BRIDGE OVER CROSS BAYOU

The A frame, or rather A Truss, railroad bridge crossing the Cross bayou is owned by the city. It was donated to the city by KCS sometime in the early 1990’s and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is one of only two such bridges, designed by the father of railroad bridge design, J. A. L. Waddell, left in existence. The American Civil Engineering Society is taking up the proposition of designating it an ASCE historic site along with the Shreveport Water Works, which is already so designated. There has been a committee working on the restoration of this bridge, and returning it to a useful purpose – presently considered is a bicycle and pedestrian bridge with a loop on the north end, primarily on levees, and connecting on the south end to the walking and riding path along the Red River, somewhere in the vicinity of the Aquarium. The bridge is particularly unusual because it was successfully patented by Waddell. See: https://downtownshreveport.com › downtowns-bridge-history

It was basically a pinned truss of a standard 100 foot span. A modified “pony truss,” Waddell added cross-bracing at the peak which greatly stiffened the lateral stability and reduced vibration. The railroads found these two properties of the design very useful as they mounted their westward expansion after the Civil War. The steering committee which has been meeting for several years now, has written a letter supporting the restoration of the bridge should the Cross Bayou Point project go forward, but in a clarification letter, stopped short of actually supporting the overall project as now proposed.

WHO NOW ARE THE PROPOSED CROSS BAYOU DEVELOPERS?

MORE NAMES NEEDED FOR VACANCIES ON CADDO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD