 The opening in 1885 of the Saint @-@ Louis – Dakar railway increased the traffic over the bridge . The railway reached all the way to Sor and all the goods hauled between the coast and the railway station had to cross over the bridge . To prevent the breakdown of the bridge a special decree was given so that the maximum weight for a vehicle that crosses the bridge to be less than one and a half tonnes . With all its difficulties the bridge remained in service 32 years , until 1897 when it was dismantled . 
