The Benjamin G. Humphreys Bridge, the first bridge to connect the two towns, had become functionally obsolete. Its narrow road had only two lanes with no shoulders. Because of its location near a sharp bend in the Mississippi River, the bridge had become a hazard to river traffic; barges and towboats frequently collided with it. In 1994, a study concluded that a new bridge was needed and the old one should be torn down. Construction was begun in 2001 and the new bridge opened in 2010. In 2011, the process of removing the old bridge began.
Opened in 2010, the Greenville Bridge carries US 82/278 over the Mississippi River between Refuge, Mississippi and Shives, Arkansas. It is located 0.5 miles (0.80 km) down river from the original bridge, built in 1940. Designed by HNTB, it is a four-lane cable-stayed bridge with more than 2.5 miles (4.0 km) of bridge deck straddled by two concrete towers 425 feet (130 m) feet high and anchored by concrete piers planted 120 feet (37 m) below the riverbed. It has four fans of strand steel cable connected to the top of the towers which support the deck.[1]
Each of the bridge's four lanes is 12 feet (4 m) wide. The outside shoulders are 12 feet (4 m) wide and the inside shoulder width is 8 feet (2 m). The bridge has a main span of 1,378 feet (420 m). At the time of its opening, it was the fourth-longest cable-stayed bridge in North America.[1]
Both the old and new bridges are geographically mostly in Arkansas, as the state lines were determined prior to the shift west of the Mississippi River.[2]
History
The first Greenville Bridge was built by the company now known as HNTB and opened to much fanfare in 1940 as the "pathway to progress" for the Mississippi Delta.[3] It was a through-truss design and had a span of 840 feet (260 m). Until 1943, this was the longest bridge for vehicles on the Mississippi River.[4] Over time, the bridge supported increasing volumes of highway traffic and vehicles hitting the bridge. In the 1950s, an Air Force plane crashed into the bridge. Though the bridge remained structurally sound, it was becoming functionally obsolete.[1] It had only two narrow highway lanes and no shoulders. An accident or the crossing of very large vehicles such as a large combine could force the bridge to close.[3]
3-D artistic prototype of the new bridge with the old bridge and the sharp bend in the Mississippi River in the background
With river traffic increasing, damage from barge collisions increased. By 1972, the Greenville Bridge was hit more times by barges than any other bridge on the Mississippi. The bridge was located close to a sharp bend in the Mississippi; towboats and barges had difficulty making the sharp turn and regaining their course in time to avoid a collision with the bridge. Over the years, many have not been able to make the turn quickly and have hit it. The bridge had become a danger to river traffic.[3]
A 1994 engineering study by the Mississippi Department of Transportation explored alternatives to upgrading the crossing of US 82 and issued a report that explored a four-lane crossing at Greenville. It concluded the best of several alternatives it identified was to build a new bridge 0.5 miles (0.80 km) downriver from the old one and to remove the old bridge. Additional studies evaluated the type of bridge to build, and by 1995 the cable-stayed bridge was chosen as the best design to fit the river and soil conditions, as well as providing sufficient clearance for river navigation. Engineering plans were completed in 1999.[1] US 278 is panned to be relocated to the proposed Charles W. Dean Bridge when it gets built, completed, and opens to traffic.
Construction
This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(March 2017)
HNTB, of Kansas City, Missouri, was the designer and consulting engineer for both the new bridge as well as the original Benjamin G. Humphreys Bridge.[4] The federal government provided $110 million to begin building the main part of the bridge consisting long spans supported by cables. The main superstructure construction began in December 2001.[5] Massman Construction Company in a joint venture with Traylor Brothers, Inc. received the contract to construct two large piers in the river; these were built using both floating caissons and open caisson construction.[6] The construction on the last main span section of the bridge was finished in April 2006.[7]
Wire cable fans on cable-stayed Greenville Bridge
Building the approaches, including shorter spans of approach bridge work and structural support systems for the bridge, was the responsibility of each state. For both states, the approach bridges are constructed of a series of three span units, each unit 120 feet (37 m) long.[5] Construction of Arkansas' 2.5 miles (4 km) approach of highway and bridge, costing $66 million, began in March 2006; Mississippi began its 1.8 miles (2.9 km) approach in April 2006, costing almost $86 million.[3] Hill Brothers Construction and Jensen Construction, in a joint venture with the Rasmussen Group, were awarded the contract for the eastern approach of US 82 in Greenville to the Mississippi River crossing.[8] Hills Brothers Construction was awarded an $85.9 million contract to work on the road deck of the Mississippi approach to the bridge, the concrete footings, and the substructure and superstructure of that portion.[9] Austin Bridge and Road was awarded a $65 million contract to build Arkansas's 4,657 feet (1,419 m) of approach bridge and 3,225 feet (983 m) of connecting roadway which was completed in August 2009.[10] The remaining contract, to apply a latex surface to the bridge, add stripes, tie US 82 into the approaches and dismantle the Humphreys Bridge, was awarded in January 2010.[10]
View of the Greenville Bridge from the Mississippi River.
It took sixteen years from the initial developing stage begun in 1994, until the Greenville Bridge opened to traffic on August 4, 2010.[3] The entire cost of the bridge totaled $336 million.[3] In 2011, the massive process of removing the old bridge by cutting it into small sections to be recycled was begun and was expected to be completed by September 2012.[2][10] At times, the river has been closed to traffic to aid the demolition.[11] The job was dangerous and at least two workers died during the demolition.[12]
^. Rassmussen Group. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
^. Hill Brothers Construction. Archived from the original on December 18, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
^ abc. GoMDOT.com. March 30, 2010. Archived from the original on August 17, 2011. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
^"Regulated Navigation Area; Greenville Bridge Demolition, Lower Mississippi River Mile 531.3, AR, MS". November 2, 2010. Federal Register. 2 November 2010. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
^Associated Press (March 11, 2011). "Two workers die in Greenville Bridge accident". Mississippi Business Journal. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
greenville, bridge, former, mississippi, river, crossing, routes, benjamin, humphreys, bridge, jesse, brent, memorial, bridge, cable, stayed, bridge, over, mississippi, river, united, states, carrying, between, refuge, mississippi, shives, arkansas, when, open. For the former Mississippi River crossing of U S Routes 82 and 278 see Benjamin G Humphreys Bridge The Greenville Bridge or the Jesse Brent Memorial Bridge is a cable stayed bridge over the Mississippi River in the United States carrying US 82 and US 278 between Refuge Mississippi and Shives Arkansas When it opened in 2010 it was the fourth longest cable stayed bridge in North America Greenville BridgeThe nearly completed bridge viewed from the Arkansas side October 2009 Coordinates33 17 14 N 91 09 15 W 33 28722 N 91 15417 W 33 28722 91 15417 Coordinates 33 17 14 N 91 09 15 W 33 28722 N 91 15417 W 33 28722 91 15417Carries4 lanes of US 82 US 278CrossesMississippi RiverLocaleRefuge Mississippi and Shives ArkansasCharacteristicsDesignCable stayed bridgeTotal length13 560 feet 4 133 m Width88 feet 27 m Longest span1 378 feet 420 m Clearance below122 feet 37 m HistoryOpenedAugust 4 2010 2010 08 04 LocationThe Benjamin G Humphreys Bridge the first bridge to connect the two towns had become functionally obsolete Its narrow road had only two lanes with no shoulders Because of its location near a sharp bend in the Mississippi River the bridge had become a hazard to river traffic barges and towboats frequently collided with it In 1994 a study concluded that a new bridge was needed and the old one should be torn down Construction was begun in 2001 and the new bridge opened in 2010 In 2011 the process of removing the old bridge began Contents 1 Description 2 History 3 Construction 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDescription EditOpened in 2010 the Greenville Bridge carries US 82 278 over the Mississippi River between Refuge Mississippi and Shives Arkansas It is located 0 5 miles 0 80 km down river from the original bridge built in 1940 Designed by HNTB it is a four lane cable stayed bridge with more than 2 5 miles 4 0 km of bridge deck straddled by two concrete towers 425 feet 130 m feet high and anchored by concrete piers planted 120 feet 37 m below the riverbed It has four fans of strand steel cable connected to the top of the towers which support the deck 1 Each of the bridge s four lanes is 12 feet 4 m wide The outside shoulders are 12 feet 4 m wide and the inside shoulder width is 8 feet 2 m The bridge has a main span of 1 378 feet 420 m At the time of its opening it was the fourth longest cable stayed bridge in North America 1 Both the old and new bridges are geographically mostly in Arkansas as the state lines were determined prior to the shift west of the Mississippi River 2 History EditThe first Greenville Bridge was built by the company now known as HNTB and opened to much fanfare in 1940 as the pathway to progress for the Mississippi Delta 3 It was a through truss design and had a span of 840 feet 260 m Until 1943 this was the longest bridge for vehicles on the Mississippi River 4 Over time the bridge supported increasing volumes of highway traffic and vehicles hitting the bridge In the 1950s an Air Force plane crashed into the bridge Though the bridge remained structurally sound it was becoming functionally obsolete 1 It had only two narrow highway lanes and no shoulders An accident or the crossing of very large vehicles such as a large combine could force the bridge to close 3 3 D artistic prototype of the new bridge with the old bridge and the sharp bend in the Mississippi River in the background With river traffic increasing damage from barge collisions increased By 1972 the Greenville Bridge was hit more times by barges than any other bridge on the Mississippi The bridge was located close to a sharp bend in the Mississippi towboats and barges had difficulty making the sharp turn and regaining their course in time to avoid a collision with the bridge Over the years many have not been able to make the turn quickly and have hit it The bridge had become a danger to river traffic 3 A 1994 engineering study by the Mississippi Department of Transportation explored alternatives to upgrading the crossing of US 82 and issued a report that explored a four lane crossing at Greenville It concluded the best of several alternatives it identified was to build a new bridge 0 5 miles 0 80 km downriver from the old one and to remove the old bridge Additional studies evaluated the type of bridge to build and by 1995 the cable stayed bridge was chosen as the best design to fit the river and soil conditions as well as providing sufficient clearance for river navigation Engineering plans were completed in 1999 1 US 278 is panned to be relocated to the proposed Charles W Dean Bridge when it gets built completed and opens to traffic Construction EditThis article needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information March 2017 HNTB of Kansas City Missouri was the designer and consulting engineer for both the new bridge as well as the original Benjamin G Humphreys Bridge 4 The federal government provided 110 million to begin building the main part of the bridge consisting long spans supported by cables The main superstructure construction began in December 2001 5 Massman Construction Company in a joint venture with Traylor Brothers Inc received the contract to construct two large piers in the river these were built using both floating caissons and open caisson construction 6 The construction on the last main span section of the bridge was finished in April 2006 7 Wire cable fans on cable stayed Greenville Bridge Building the approaches including shorter spans of approach bridge work and structural support systems for the bridge was the responsibility of each state For both states the approach bridges are constructed of a series of three span units each unit 120 feet 37 m long 5 Construction of Arkansas 2 5 miles 4 km approach of highway and bridge costing 66 million began in March 2006 Mississippi began its 1 8 miles 2 9 km approach in April 2006 costing almost 86 million 3 Hill Brothers Construction and Jensen Construction in a joint venture with the Rasmussen Group were awarded the contract for the eastern approach of US 82 in Greenville to the Mississippi River crossing 8 Hills Brothers Construction was awarded an 85 9 million contract to work on the road deck of the Mississippi approach to the bridge the concrete footings and the substructure and superstructure of that portion 9 Austin Bridge and Road was awarded a 65 million contract to build Arkansas s 4 657 feet 1 419 m of approach bridge and 3 225 feet 983 m of connecting roadway which was completed in August 2009 10 The remaining contract to apply a latex surface to the bridge add stripes tie US 82 into the approaches and dismantle the Humphreys Bridge was awarded in January 2010 10 View of the Greenville Bridge from the Mississippi River It took sixteen years from the initial developing stage begun in 1994 until the Greenville Bridge opened to traffic on August 4 2010 3 The entire cost of the bridge totaled 336 million 3 In 2011 the massive process of removing the old bridge by cutting it into small sections to be recycled was begun and was expected to be completed by September 2012 2 10 At times the river has been closed to traffic to aid the demolition 11 The job was dangerous and at least two workers died during the demolition 12 See also Edit Transport portal Engineering portal United States portal Mississippi portal List of crossings of the Lower Mississippi River Charles W Dean Bridge Wikimedia Commons has media related to Greenville Bridge References Edit a b c d Project Summary The New Bridge US 82 Greenville Bridge Archived from the original on May 18 2012 Retrieved January 6 2012 a b Grayson Walt June 7 2011 Old Greenville Bridge Coming Down 3 on your side Retrieved January 6 2011 a b c d e f Lampkin Sheilla February 17 2011 End of an Era Greenville Bridge Dismantled Monticello Live Retrieved January 6 2012 a b Project Summary The 1940 Bridge US 82 Greenville Bridge Archived from the original on November 7 2011 Retrieved January 6 2012 a b Approach Projects US 82 Greensville Bridge Archived from the original on January 9 2015 Retrieved January 7 2012 Greenville Bridge Construction Plan Hydrodynamic and Scour Potential Analysis PDF West Consulting Inc Archived from the original PDF on November 14 2006 Retrieved January 7 2012 Greenville Bridge Span Completed NBC WLBT 2006 04 13 Retrieved January 8 2012 East Approach To Mississippi River Bridge Greenville MS Rassmussen Group Archived from the original on July 22 2012 Retrieved January 6 2012 Highway 82 Greenville Bridge and Approaches Hill Brothers Construction Archived from the original on December 18 2010 Retrieved January 7 2012 a b c Project Updates for District 3 Delta Region GoMDOT com March 30 2010 Archived from the original on August 17 2011 Retrieved January 8 2012 Regulated Navigation Area Greenville Bridge Demolition Lower Mississippi River Mile 531 3 AR MS November 2 2010 Federal Register 2 November 2010 Retrieved January 6 2012 Associated Press March 11 2011 Two workers die in Greenville Bridge accident Mississippi Business Journal Retrieved January 6 2012 External links EditGreenville Bridge Jensen Construction HNTB Corp Massman Construction Co Traylor Bros Inc News report video on bridge opening https law justia com codes mississippi 2015 title 65 chapter 3 special designations of portions of highway system and bridges section 65 3 71206 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Greenville Bridge amp oldid 1136613516, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
