Okechobee is OK to drive thru

The construction of a new railroad bridge near the corner of Austin and Okechobee streets is now complete.

A portion of Okechobee Street had been closed since November, when the old, wooden trestle was removed piece by piece to make way for the new bridge.

The road was reopened for traffic on Friday.

Railroad owner Canadian National hired Hills Brothers, based in Faulkner, Miss., to replace the aging wooden bridge with a new, metal bridge. Although cars were not allowed to pass underneath during the construction, trains, en route to the nearby Temple-Inland paper mill, were still able to cross on top.

The new construction also allows for a wider path underneath �” a blessing for the nearby Bogalusa Fire Station, which sends trucks under the bridge.

“I’ve had nothing but compliments (about the new bridge),” said James Hall, Bogalusa’s Public Works director, who worked with the contractor on the project.

The city had reportedly asked the railroad company to widen the path below the bridge nearly 60 years ago.