cable stayed bridge mississippi_river carrying refuge mississippi arkansas opened fourth longest cable stayed bridge north_america bridge connect towns obsolete narrow road lanes shoulders location near sharp bend mississippi_river bridge hazard river traffic barges frequently collided study concluded new bridge needed old torn construction begun new bridge opened process removing old bridge began description opened bridge carries mississippi_river refuge mississippi arkansas located miles river original bridge built designed lane cable stayed bridge miles bridge deck concrete towers feet feet high anchored concrete piers planted feet fans strand steel cable connected towers support deck bridge lanes feet wide outside shoulders feet feet wide inside shoulder width feet bridge main span feet time opening fourth longest cable stayed bridge north_america old new bridges geographically arkansas state lines determined prior shift west mississippi_river history bridge built company known opened fanfare progress design span feet 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 construction kansas_city missouri designer consulting engineer new bridge original federal government provided million begin building main bridge consisting long spans supported cables main superstructure construction began december joint venture received contract construct large piers river built floating open construction construction main span section bridge finished april building approaches including shorter spans approach bridge work structural support systems bridge responsibility state states approach bridges constructed series span units unit feet long construction arkansas miles mile approach highway bridge costing million began march mississippi began miles approach april costing million joint venture awarded contract eastern approach mississippi_river crossing awarded million contract work road deck mississippi approach bridge concrete superstructure portion road awarded million contract build arkansas feet approach bridge feet connecting roadway completed august remaining contract apply latex surface bridge add stripes tie approaches awarded january took sixteen years initial developing stage begun bridge opened traffic august entire cost bridge totaled million massive process removing old bridge cutting small sections recycled begun expected completed september times river closed traffic aid demolition job dangerous workers died
Greenville Bridge