Fedherbe Bridge Will Soon Have a Twin

The Fedherbe Bridge will soon have a twin. Construction began in the spring of this year and project completion is set vaguely for mid year, next year. Until then, traffic is staggered so that one direction crosses while the other one waits. Late at night, when you take a taxi home from the island and the cabbie takes dark and twisty back routes, there is no need to fear, he is merely working his way to the queue to cross the bridge back to the mainland.

Pedestrian traffic is likewise doubled on the one side of the bridge because the second walkway is right in the midst of all the construction. The walkway is made of thick wooden slats, brand new in some spots, and old and rotten in others. If you're lucky, you can follow a sheep herder across the bridge with his knobbly kneed flock, as it is quite entertaining to watch!

Before crossing the bridge coming from land, it is important to visit the two pleasant peanut ladies who are often known to give a good deal on their wares. Both ladies are old and wear elaborate cloth dresses of which involve folds upon folds of colourful african design fabric. When you ask for change, they often have to dig through various folds of their garb in order to seek out the correct coins. They have set up shop with a large white pail and a metal platter that holds all the bagged peanuts. Bits of used cardboard are set underneath the bags of nuts to create the appearance of sanitary food presentation.

On the bridge, there is always a firm breeze that rolls in off the ocean. Even on the hottest days, it is easy to find reprieve from the heat during the 5 minute walk across to the other side.

On the island side of the bridge, there are several vendors, always with the same selection: sandals, necklaces, magazines, sliced coconut, peanuts, Touba coffee, novelty toy sized buses. The necklace vendors are the most persistant, and will often follow you all the way down the street until you convince them you really don't need another necklace, but maybe tomorrow you will.

After the vendors you reach the large post office on the left, and the Hotel de la Poste on the right. The post office is a grand, white, art-nouveau style building that scarcely contains all the grandeur it must have once had. The Hotel de la Poste is where the French air mail pilots were housed back in the heyday of St. Louis. I can't speak to the current quality of it`s lodging, but sitting underneath the covered terrace with a cafe au lait and a laptop is really quite a great way to settle in and blog about a bridge.