Rating:
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Newport Bridge

Jackson County, Arkansas

Photos 

Overview

Photos taken Sept. 2001 and provided by the Arkansas Highway & Transportation Department

BH Photo #100564

Map 

Street View 

Description 

The 400-foot, double-cantilevered bridge at Newport was a major construction project in 1929-30. The bridge, along with two similar bridges at Augusta and Clarendon, Arkansas, was designed by renowned bridge engineer Ira G. Hedrick, and became part of a main interstate highway route.

-- Historic American Engineering Record

Timeline 

Compiled by James Baughn

June 1928
Congress approved construction of bridge at Newport
11May 1, 1929
War Department finally gave approval for the bridge to be built over the navigable White River
May 15, 1929
Bids received for construction of bridge and approaches
Sept. 10, 1930
Two-day festival held to celebrate the bridge's completion
Sept. 18, 1930
Bridge officially opened to traffic, with a 50 cent toll for automobiles
Apr. 1, 1938
Tolls removed ahead of schedule thanks to a special Federal funding program
May 26, 1938
Another festival held to celebrate removal of tolls
View Uglybridges.com report

Facts 

Overview
Cantilevered through truss bridge on AR 367 (formerly US 67) over White River at Newport
Location
Jackson County, Arkansas
Status
Open to two-lane traffic
Future prospects
Replacement bridge under construction as of November 2016.
History
Built 1930
Builders
- Ira G. Hedrick
- List & Weatherly Construction Co. of Kansas City, Missouri
- Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Co. of Leavenworth, Kansas
Design
Cantilevered Warren through truss
Dimensions
Length of largest span: 400.0 ft.
Total length: 2,830.3 ft. (0.5 mi.)
Deck width: 23.9 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 16.0 ft.
Recognition
Posted to the National Register of Historic Places
Approximate latitude, longitude
+35.60618, -91.28839   (decimal degrees)
35°36'22" N, 91°17'18" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
15/655033/3941617 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Newport
Inventory numbers
AHTD 00612 (Arkansas Highway and Transportation Dept. bridge number)
NRHP 90000503 (National Register of Historic Places reference number)
AHTD 612 (Arkansas Highway and Transportation Dept. bridge number)
BH 10388 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Inspection (as of 04/2015)
Deck condition rating: Poor (4 out of 9)
Superstructure condition rating: Poor (4 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Appraisal: Structurally deficient
Sufficiency rating: 15.3 (out of 100)
Average daily traffic (as of 2014)
2,300

Categories 

Arkansas (1,676)
Available for reuse (218)
Built 1930 (1,604)
Built during 1930s (10,575)
Cantilevered (297)
Cantilevered truss (251)
Doomed (1,027)
HAER documented (1,096)
Have street view (22,077)
Ira G. Hedrick (7)
Jackson County, Arkansas (13)
List & Weatherly Construction Co. (9)
Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Co. (99)
NR-listed (2,844)
Navigable waterway (1,998)
 Open (36,571)
Owned by state (13,675)
Painted blue (69)
Pin-connected (3,219)
Riveted (1,875)
Span length 250-500 feet (1,087)
Structurally deficient (18,431)
TRUSS Award 2012 (15)
Through truss (12,898)
Total length over 2500 feet (793)
Truss (29,445)
US 67 (96)
Warren through truss (1,447)
Warren truss (5,791)
White River (Arkansas-Missouri) (35)

Update Log 

  • November 17, 2016: Updated by Nathan Holth: Updated status to note new bridge is under construction.
  • September 15, 2016: Updated by Christopher Finigan: Added categories "Pin-connected", "Riveted"
  • June 24, 2016: Updated by David Backlin: Available for Reuse
  • January 26, 2015: HAER photos posted by Dave King
  • February 28, 2014: New photos from Jack Schmidt
  • April 24, 2012: Updated by David Backlin: Scheduled for replacement
  • March 5, 2011: New Street View added by J.P.
  • January 18, 2005: Posted AHTD photos

Sources 

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Comments 

Newport Bridge
Posted November 17, 2016, by Nathan Holth (webmaster [at] historicbridges [dot] org)

Bridge is still being built. Approach spans are well underway, but there are no beams set over the main channel yet.

Newport Bridge
Posted October 20, 2015, by Robert Elder (robertelder1 [at] gmail [dot] com)

I drove across this bridge today. The new bridge is under construction immediately to the west. You still have time to drive over the bridge, but plan to visit in the near future. The boat ramp parking lot is still open.

Newport Bridge
Posted July 19, 2012, by Dalton Adams (daltonjadams [at] yahoo [dot] com)

I have only crossed this bridge one time in my life.My dad has inspected it and says it's the scariest bridge he's ever been on,and there's some pretty scary bridges in Arkansas.

Newport Bridge
Posted February 4, 2012, by Tony Dillon (spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com)

Good to hear that the town has an interest in preserving it.

Newport Bridge
Posted February 4, 2012, by Ervin Hoffmeister (ervinhoff3 [at] suddenlink [dot] net)

The Newport White river bridge is being replaced.

Construction might start as soon as 2013.

The bridge is on the national historic registry and has ben offer to be taken over by the town of Newport. The city has sent A letter expressing the intrest in taking over the bridge and turning it into A Musem and walking bridge.

This Bridge is one of three sisters similar in design over the White river. 1 Newport Ar, 2 Agusta Ar & 3 Clarendon Ar. Note the Agusta bridge has been demolished and replaced the Clarendon bridge is being replaced and it look's like the old brdge will be Demolished .This means the Newport bridge will be the last of 3 twins left over the White River.

This bridge is A pice of history ! Hopefuly It will be preserved for the future . It woukd be nice to still see it STANDING Proud! when it reaches it's 100 Birthday.

Newport Bridge
Posted February 25, 2011, by ranchmama (cowgirl [at] suddenlink [dot] net)

This thing scares the daylights out of me every time we have to cross it.And we do,whenever we go over to the western part of the state (Mt.View,etc) taking horses to ride somewhere.It's especially bad to go over it at night.Maybe it's just me,but,I don't like it.It's gotten to where we drive around by Diaz and past the Entergy plant just to avoid this.

Newport Bridge
Posted January 9, 2009, by Ervin Hoffmeister III (ervinhoff32suddenlink [dot] net)

We crossed the old blue bridge 01-01-09 . Yo can tell that time and weather has taken A tole on the Historic Landmark.

The Steel cantlever suports need A new coat of paint. The road bed seems to get narrower each year and needs a good layer of concreet added to it to smooth out the bumps. It has withstood 2 historic Floods the 1982 Flood and 2008 spring flood. It worries me there have been no atempts in the last 2 or 3 years to even try to keep her shored up in good condition. I am Afraid this means we will oneday loose this lanmark ! Some towns Are currently trying to get old HWY 67 Established the Rockibilly highway . Well think hard almost every one in Jackson Co at one time has crossed this bridge and is now A part of history we need to preserve it like the cotter bridge across the northern White River . Old blue deserves the same chance . I hope the politicians see this and help us before it is too late .

Remember The White River monster need's A home or bridge to live under here in Jackson Co!

Newport Bridge
Posted March 9, 2007, by Donald L. Putman (dputman [at] netzero [dot] com)

I was six years of age, at the time I crossed this bridge. The year was 1968. We were going to Fort Leonardwood, MO. to visit my Aunt, who was an Army Major. We even stayed on the Army base. Dad decided to go through Newport. We crossed this bridge spanning the White River. Dad knew I was fascinated by bridges. He definately let me get a chance to see this bridge. It's a Masterpiece. Wonderfully built. I hope it stands for a long, long, long, long time.