Long-Allen Bridge

Based on report HAER No. LA-18 prepared by Alex McMurry, Cultural Resources Specialist at the Oregon Department of Transportation, Salem, Oregon, in November 2004

The Long-Allen Bridge is significant as the first vehicular and pedestrian bridge crossing the Red River in Shreveport. Bridge construction began in September of 1931 and the bridge was formally opened to traffic in September of 1933. The bridge replaced a ferry service connecting US 80 on the east and west sides of the river. The bridge was constructed by the Weatherly Construction Company of Kansas City, Missouri. The bridge is also significant as a good example of a cantilevered through truss with steel deck girder approaches. The main span is a K-Truss with riveted connections and lacing. The bridge provides approximately 90 feet of vertical clearance above the river and the piers are set 520 feet apart. The central span is flanked by 182-foot long cantilevered spans with three 102'-9" steel deck girder approach spans at each end of the bridge. The total length of the bridge, including the approach grades, is 2982 feet. The bridge is named for Governors Huey P. Long and Oscar K. Allen, under whose administrations the bridge was built.