Old MS River Bridge open for strolling Friday September 19

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) – The Old Mississippi River Bridge will be open to pedestrians Friday, Sept. 19, from noon to 5 p.m., offering the public a rare opportunity to walk across the historic span.

Visitors will be able to take in views of the Mississippi River and watch barges move along the waterway. Organizers encourage attendees to bring cameras to capture the scenery.

The bridge can be accessed from Interstate 20, Exit 1, at the Mississippi Welcome Center.

About the Bridge:

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.