The Canal Latéral à la Loire was constructed between 1827 and 1838 to connect the Canal de Briare at Briare and the Canal du Centre at Digoin, a distance of 196 km. It replaced the use of the River Loire which had reliability problems arising from winter floods and summer droughts. Aqueducts were used to cross the River Allier at Le Guétin (in the commune of Cuffy) and the River Loire at Digoin, but because of the extreme length required, one was not built to cross the Loire River at Briare until 1896 when the Briare aqueduct was constructed.