By James Pilcher and Jane Prendergast
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati police have begun round-the-clock patrols on two key Ohio River bridges that are links in major national freight train routes.

The patrols, which began Tuesday as part of the increased terrorism alert, are posted at the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge and the Cincinnati, New Orleans, Texas, Pacific Bridge, which crosses the Ohio River at Ludlow.

All districts of the Cincinnati Police Department are contributing to the patrols, which include four different posts on and around the two bridges. According to a memo obtained by the Enquirer, the two spots have been identified as potential terrorist targets. Officers are to keep watch for suspicious vehicle and pedestrian behavior.

Officers are told to investigate and report anyone riding on the side of a train or who is walking on the railroad bridge, which has no sidewalks.

Both CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern operate major train lines through the Tristate, and CSX operates one of its largest Midwest rail yards in Queensgate. More than 60 trains cross through the area daily, with some carrying toxic chemicals as well as key raw goods such as coal. Both bridges connect trains to the Queensgate yard.

Rudy Husband, spokesman for Norfolk, Va.-based Norfolk Southern, said the increased security measures were a direct result of the "orange" alert and of the war in Iraq.

"Following the Sept. 11 attacks, the industry and the appropriate federal, state and local agencies very appropriately created a plan that has been refined over that time," Husband said. "And obviously, the situation in Iraq has caused us to amend it again.''

CSX officials would not comment directly on the increased security, or on whether similar measures were being undertaken in other cities.

E-mail jpilcher@enquirer.com; jprendergast@enquirer.com