calsfoundation@cals.org
August 29, 2009
The Memphis-Arkansas Memorial Bridge (left) on Interstate 55, which connects Arkansas with Tennessee at Memphis, opened on December 17, 1949. The bridge soon became the Mississippi River’s chief cross-traffic. Total cost of the steel structure bridge and accesses totaled $13.6 million. Increased traffic capacity of the bridge greatly contributed to the growth of West Memphis (Crittenden County) as a major trucking center.