Mile 734.7 - The Old Bridge (Memphis & Arkansas Bridge)

734.7 The Old Bridge (Memphis & Arkansas Bridge)

This bridge cost $10.5 million and as part of Interstate 55, it connects Arkansas with Tennessee. Unfortunately it was not built to withstand an earthquake and can't be retrofitted with seismic protection. When this bridge opened it meant there were now three bridges at this location - approximately 150 feet apart. The upstream structure is the Harahan Bridge. The Frisco Bridge is the middle structure, and the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge is next in line. As of 2007 the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge continues to serve as a vital automobile conduit for cross-river traffic. It carries 50,000 cars each day - only about 5,000 fewer than the newer Hernando de Soto Bridge to the north.

This bridge has 5 names: Memphis and Arkansas Bridge, Memphis-Arkansas Bridge, Memphis-Arkansas Memorial Bridge, Memphis & Arkansas Memorial Bridge, and now a new name, The Old Bridge. The Memphis-Arkansas Bridge was built in 1949 as part of the US-40. It replaced the narrow traffic lanes that were attached to each side of the Harahan Bridge. It was built before the introduction of the Interstate Highway System, so the span was not built to Interstate standards. It lacked the concrete barrier between the different directions of traffic and they were added later. It was also built with a sidewalk on either side of the roadway. They are also now separated from the traffic lanes by concrete barriers. However sidewalk travel has been prohibited on the bridge.

(from Historic-Memphis.com)