Old River Bridge

It looks like phase 1 has been completed. The bridge has been removed.

Work has started in the restoration of this bridge, which is estimated to cost $2.8 million.

See: https://bentoncourier.com/content/efforts-restore-river-brid...

You can also see pictures and more information about the organization which was founded to preserve the bridge, etc at: https://www.salinecrossing.com/ (Photos from May 2018: https://www.salinecrossing.com/photos)

Visited the Old River Bridge on 27 Aug 2016.

These photos are from the Benton and Haskell side.

Any updates on if or when they plan on restoring this bridge?

Taken 2/17/16

I REALLY dont like this idea of take the bridge down and wait till they have funds to put it back up... also they are saying that this bridge was built in 1891 instead of 99

Melissa,

That's great news! Do you know who is doing the rehab or any further details?

Sincerely,

Art S.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that $500,000 has been given to begin the rehabilitation of the bridge, which will become part of the Saline Crossing Regional Park and eventually will become part of the pedestrian Southwest Trail from Little Rock to Hot Springs.

The group working to restore the bridge is Saline Crossing Inc. (salinecrossing.com).

Here is the article, though a subscription or answering a survey may be required to read it.

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2015/dec/14/saline-county...

Neat picture on Flickr:

http://flickriver.com/photos/100483258@N08/15105988717/

Here is an article about the plans for this bridge and area:

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2013/mar/24/bridge-park-i...

http://www.facebook.com/SalineCrossing?ref=ts&fref=ts For the latest information about efforts to preserve the bridge and build a regional park on the location, join this facebook page.

There will be an event to raise awareness of the bridge in May, 2013 with tours of the land set aside around the bridge for the park.

Phillip: It is a restricted area, however when I asked a policeman for directions, he said it's tucked down in the woods and nobody ever calls the cops. He said that the police don't even patrol down there because it's not city property, it's Union Pacific Property.

Tried to visit this bridge today, I notice the roads are blocked off at least river street was. Does anyone know if this area is prohibited? Thought about going past the gate on foot, but decided not to. Is there another way to get down there?

A group supporting preservation invites the public to a tour of this bridge: http://www.bentoncourier.com/content/view/254483/1/

I went down to the bridge this afternoon. After seeing an article about trying to make it a historic site and reusable earlier this year, I've been curious about what it looks like. It would take a lot of work to make it reuseable again. It is beautiful down there though.

visted this bridge for the first time 7.18.09 from the benton side. i understand you can no longer approach from the haskel side as it has been blocked off. people have been vandalizing the pump station. most of the deck is gone. some areas are even starting to collapse. you cannot get "onto" the bridge itself as the approach is gone. the thing that struck me about the bridge is its size and height. it's massive.

Visited this bridge 29 October 2006 about 5:30 pm. Not able to get on bridge itself, but there is a RR bridge about 100 yds. downstream that I crossed to the other side for additional pictures. It's a little weedy around the north approach and some of the trestle is still in place which is another good spot to take photos of the deck.

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

This bridge was used in the movie Slingblade, another Billy Bob Thornton movie.