What a difference a few miles makes.
The I-40, just a few miles to the north, crosses the Mississippi River over the elegant gateway Hernando DeSoto Bridge.
The I-55, a gritty, 18-wheeler laden industrial arterial comes into Memphis along century-old railroad bridges on the Memphis – Arkansas bridge.
I-40 travelers to Memphis are greeted with beautiful downtown skyline.
I-55 travelers to Memphis get an eyeful of abandoned multi-story hotel buildings, graffiti, badly-patched-together freeway infrastructure, and general decay.
The only bright spot in this ugly area is this graceful truss bridge itself, which, if its approaches on the TN side were better configured and maintained, could be a lovely gateway, especially since it is listed on the National Register.
From the Bridgehunter website: (
visit link)
MEMPHIS-ARKANSAS BRIDGE
Overview
Cantilevered through truss bridge over the Mississippi River on I-55 at Memphis
Location
Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, and Crittenden County, Arkansas
Status
Open to four lanes of traffic
History
Built 1949
Design
Main Span: Five-span continuous Warren Through truss with polygonal top chords
Approach Spans: Two Warren Through vertical trusses, also two Warren through deck trusses
Arkansas Viaduct Approach: 19 girder spans
Dimensions
Length of largest span: 789.8 ft.
Total length: 5,220.7 ft. (1.0 mi.)
Deck width: 51.8 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 17.3 ft.
Recognition
Posted to the National Register of Historic Places"