The "Bakowski Bridge of Lights" illuminates the Red 2/22/22 Karen E. Wissing Come "2sday," Feb. 22, 2022, the "Bakowski Bridge of Lights" will debut on the Texas Street Bridge, brightly uniting Shreveport and Bossier City for years to come.

“Tim James looks for projects like this,” Bradford said. “He was looking for growth and expansion in his business. He has some relationships here in Shreveport. He looked at our issues here, where a river separates two economically thriving communities — south Shreveport and south Bossier City — and the need to improve transit between the two.

“The community supported me and my practice all those years, so I decided I wanted to give back to the community,” Dr. Bakowski said. “What better way than lighting up the bridge? It is something that can be enjoyed by all. It will showcase Shreveport-Bossier, instill civic pride, and be seen by millions driving I-20.

Debate has endured for years as to what should be done to bridge the gap that interrupts Interstate 49, and conversation has heated up again with a series of public comment sessions held in late January.