Big River Crossing offers visitors truly unique experience

Big River Crossing offers visitors truly unique experience

Pedestrian and bicycle trail spans the Mighty Mississippi

news@theeveningtimes.com

With a whistle and a roar Union Pacific engine click clacked over the new Park in the Sky on the elevated Harahan Bridge landing, site of The Big River Crossing (BRX) grand opening celebration in Arkansas. Engine 844 known as the Living Legend based in Cheyenne Wyoming steamed overhead to about two hundred waving onlookers just before the ribbon cutting ceremonies featuring Governor Asa Hutchinson.

The new connector between “little sister” West Memphis and “big sister” Memphis is a mile long and 10 foot wide bike/pedestrian platform on the north side of the bridge where vehicle traffic once traversed on boardwalks from 1917 to 1949. Part of a $40 million federal TIGER grant for multi-modal transportation projects, CMAQ funds earmarked for air quality improvements, and private donations paved the way for the closest trail to active rail in the world on the side of the Harahan Bridge. Given private donations for a spectacular LED light display to highlight the BRX, the price tag tapped the till for $26 Million.

Appropriately bridge metaphors spanned the speeches from a handful of dignitaries before the ribbon cutting and the official first walk. The sights and sounds of the river stopped Arkansas group a few times for photos and conversation about the new view on the century old bridge siding. Dignitaries from Tennessee and Arkansas met at the state line over the river and extended congratulations with warm hand shakes, big smiles, and pats on the back.

ASU Mid-South President Debra West emceed the ribbon cutting ceremony.

“Bridges represent transition, progress, and hope,” said West. “The Big River Crossing represents all those things to the two states and the two communities it connects.”

Both State Senator Keith Ingram and Judge Woody Wheeless claimed family ties to the historic Harahan Bridge.

“I am proud to say my grandfather helped build this bridge,” said Wheeless. “It’s hard to believe we will be walking on this bridge today. The craftsmanship on this bridge is unbelievable. It say a lot about the pride those men took to build this bridge. I see nothing but great things coming from this grand structure connecting a large metropolitan city with a rural agricultural county tied together by a common bridge which we believe will bring annually thousands of visitors to our county to boost our economy.”

Senator Ingram noted that Crittenden County owns the bridge right-of-way and looked beyond the BRX opening day toward the development of other Mississippi River trails with West Memphis at the hub.

“Look, to the future here,” said Ingram, “There are five miles of trails coming to the Delta Regional River Park between the two Interstate bridges.”

The Governor pointed to tourism and economic opportunity. He noted last year 28 million tourists spent $7.2 billion in the State producing $374 million in State taxes. He pointed down river to the 70 mile long Big River Trail from West Memphis to Marianna.

“This occasion is about connection,” said Hutchinson. “I think about the connection between West Memphis and Memphis as we recruit new industry to the County. That progress is connected to Memphis. The BRX strengthens that connection.”

After the ribbon cutting and the official first walk, West Memphis put on a day long party. Three bands played the blues for the Bridge the blues-themed day long event highlighted by Beverly ‘Guitar’ Watkins. The scent of Delta Regional Authority award wining BBQ filled the air too as a few thousand hikers and bike riders, roller skaters and skateboarder made their way to Park in the Sky on the west bank landing. Twenty minutes of fireworks sponsored by the West Memphis A& P impressed spectators on both sides of the river and culminated the festivities serving to open the curtain on the LED lights that run across the river on the Harahan.

The BRX is set to attract train, shipping and bridge enthusiasts, bird watchers, photographers, along with hikers, cyclists and Ecotourists. Executives with Philips lighting said the decorative lights like those on the BRX are part of an emerging world wide tourism trend. Former After making serious observations about cycling trails atop the St. Francis Levee, former State Senator Steve Higginbotham wondered out loud about another kind of new tourist.

“I don’t know if there is any Pokémon up there or not,” said Higginbotham.

Marion Elementary student Micah Sagaskey traversed the BRX on opening day and reported the pocket monsters had not yet discovered the new way across the Mississippi River. It’s a simple build it and they will come proposition for the eight year old.

“There were no Pokémon to catch out there today,” said Sagaskey. “But if enough people come, the Pokémon will follow.”

Claim to Fame

Photos submitted by Melissa Sterling

Ralissa McKenney Sterling, 5, made a little history when she crossed the new Big River Crossing last Saturday. 'I was excited and had so much fun riding from Arkansas to Tennessee. It was great being the first kid to ride across the Mississippi River!,' said the youngster 'I thank my dad (Raque Sterling) and his friends for allowing me to enjoy this experience that I will never forget! The Memphis Police Officer that patrolled the area over Riverside Drive for the riders festival was very nice. He let me give him a hug.'

By John Rech