Clarendon Bridge

This bridge is incredible, I really really hope they dont destroy it like the beautiful bridge down there in Lake Village. Clarendon is pretty much a mess though, depopulated and crappy unfortunately so i dont have much hope for the bridge.

I've seen the plans for the new bridge. Other than that it's going to be massive, it doesn't impress me in the least. It's just a hell of a lot of concrete. Big damn deal. The plans that I've seen don't call for removal of the current bridge, but do call for the connection of the current highway to the new highway on both ends.

But this bridge is my favorite of all that I've ever visited or plan to visit in the future. I love it so much that I put it on my MasterCard! Locals find the current bridge to be narrow and scary. At 23'11", I find it to be sufficiently wide, and I wasn't at all scared to walk it (with a yellow HV vest, of course). One thing I really love about it apart from its stark beauty is the gentle bounce felt at midspan when a heavy truck crosses.

I have about four whole rolls of pictures I've taken of this bridge, but they're all still in negative on the film and I haven't gotten around to scanning them into my computer and correcting them yet. I need to get on that as soon as I can find the time.

I think the big Iron Bridge in Clarendon Ar. is the prettys bridge that I ever seen also the twin bridge in Newport AR.is the prettys bridge I hope that they will keep the Iron big bridge in Clarendon Ar. when they open the new river bridge there building it is history.

I think the Clarendon Iron Bridge is the Prettys briges and Newport Bridge is like the one in Clarendon Ar.

I hope they will keep the Iron bridge when they open the new river bridge it is a pretty history bridge.

I visited this bridge as part of a tour of historic bridges in eastern Arkansas the first of this month. I saw five other historic bridges that day, and two others with a relatively short history, and I voted the Clarendon Bridge the most beautiful of them all. Maybe it was growing up not far from Caruthersville and Cairo, but something about a cantilevered Warren through-truss has always charmed me. The next time I'm in Arkansas, I want to see its near-twin at Newport.

Visited this bridge on 23 Mar '09. Construction is very similar to the Newport Bridge over the White River. A barge loading facility is below the bridge on the east bank. AR Fish & Game river access (boat ramp) is 1/4 mile upstream. Highway 79 traffic seems light on this two lane bridge and I was able to stop in the middle of bridge and get out to photograph the nearby RR bridge. The west approach is long and gradual spanning swampy terrain. The attached photos show the massive bulked-up gussett plates on the upper eyebar link and of the pier support joint. The silver painted bridge is arced so visibilty from either approach is limited until reaching the middle. Clarendon is the Monroe County seat and the lovely courthouse with its tall clock tower can be seen from the bridge.

Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.

The first time I crossed this bridge, was in the early fall of 1975. My Mother was in training in Pine Bluff, for the Arkansas Employment Security Division. Since this was business. My dad took me and my brother Leslie sightseeing. He took us to Marvel, AR, to meet a lady, who he boarded with. Dad knew I was fascinated by bridges. He said we are going to cross a great big bridge in Clarendon, over the White River. When we crossed it then, the steel frame was yellow. Later they I suppose repainted it back silver. Anyhow it's the same bridge. Most of all it's a landmark.