lane bridge carrying route route mississippi_river arkansas mississippi bridge connect towns bridge named united_states congressman hailed progressive opened obsolete vehicle river traffic increased narrow lanes shoulders bridge blocked accidents crossing large vehicles like farm equipment location near sharp bend mississippi_river bridge hazard river traffic barges frequently collided study concluded new bridge needed old torn new bridge bridge built replacement sharp bend opened work began remove description modern time lane steel bridge carried mississippi_river connected towns arkansas mississippi road time prior bridge local vehicles local freight cross river ferry named congressman authored flood control bill establishing national flood control program mississippi promoted concept flood control contain river bridge opened october great fanfare main span width feet highway bridge longest span mississippi_river width roadway feet lanes feet shoulders history late 1930s talk started construction bridge cross mississippi_river group called arkansas mississippi alabama association formed raise funds bridge mayor time worked secretary congress pass law authorizing bridge bill authorizing bridge signed law august president smith applied money fund estimated million build bridge agreed proposal september construction started bridge months later built company known opened fanfare progress design span feet meters longest bridge vehicles mississippi_river time bridge supported increasing volumes highway traffic vehicles hitting bridge 1950s air_force plane crashed bridge bridge remained structurally sound obsolete narrow highway lanes shoulders accident crossing large vehicles large combine force bridge close river traffic increasing damage barge collisions increased bridge hit times barges bridge mississippi bridge located close sharp bend mississippi barges difficulty making sharp turn regaining course time avoid collision bridge years able turn quickly hit bridge danger river traffic engineering study explored alternatives upgrading crossing issued report explored lane crossing concluded best alternatives identified build new bridge miles old remove old bridge additional studies evaluated type bridge build cable stayed bridge chosen best design fit river soil conditions providing sufficient clearance river navigation engineering plans completed bridge replacement destruction new bridge opened traffic august massive process removing old bridge cutting small sections recycled begun expected completed september times river closed traffic aid demolition job dangerous workers died
Benjamin G. Humphreys Bridge