
Oblique view
This is the main span of the remaining railroad bridge [Color photos taken by Wayne Kizziar]
I visited the old river bridge today. The Bridge WAS used in the opening scenes of Sling Blade. I saw a Benton Police Officer and asked him about it, he said it IS off limits and there IS a gate that prohibits vehicles from traveling there however it's tucked away in the woods and there are rarely any police reports of trespassing there. There is NO approach to the bridge so it's not possible to get on it UNLESS you want to take the risk of being bitten by one of the 6 Water Moccasins I saw on my trip. About 100 yards upstream there is an ACTIVE train trussel however I don't think it's accessible from the Benton side, you need to go a little south to Haskell to get on, i'm not sure though.
Visited this bridge at 5:30 pm on 29 October 2006. Crossed over it to get to the other side of Old River Bridge which is 100 yds. upstream. The bridge is active as two trains crossed the bridge (one in each direction) while I was out there.
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.