Big Dam Bridge
Encyclopedia
Originally intended to be called Murray Bridge, the Big Dam Bridge is the longest pedestrian bridge to span the Arkansas River
between Little Rock
and North Little Rock
, Arkansas
over the Murray Lock and Dam, and is open only to pedestrian
and bicycle
traffic. The bridge is also the longest pedestrian/bicycle bridge in North America that has never been used by cars or trucks. (NOTE: The longest in the United States is the Chain of Rocks Bridge
on the north edge of St. Louis, Missouri
at 5350 feet (1,630.7 m), but it is a refurbished former highway bridge.) At 4,226 feet (1288 m.) in length, the Big Dam Bridge rises to 90 feet (27.4 m) over the surface of the Arkansas River and 30 feet (9.1 m) over the dam. The span over the river is 3,463 feet (1055 m.), with the ramps on either side of the river accounting for the rest of the length. The southern end of the bridge is near Little Rock's Murray Park, while the northern end is at Cook's Landing Park in North Little Rock.
The nickname was given by Pulaski County Judge F.G. “Buddy” Villines, who was concerned about the financing needed and was quoted to say, "We're going to build that dam bridge." (He insisted he was referring to its location on a dam, and was not using the mild expletive.) The total construction cost was $12.8 million.
The opening ceremony was on Saturday, September 30, 2006. Local politicians boasted the Big Dam Bridge will boost the local economy and also contribute to the local health of the population. The bridge and adjacent parks are used for several races including the Big Dam Bridge 100 cycling tour, the BDB Twilight 5k race, and the BDB Duathlon.
The Federal Highway Administration gave one of its first Exemplary Human Environment Initiative awards to the bridge, and Illuminating Engineer Society gave its Award of Merit at the international level to the bridge's LED lighting design.
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
between Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
and North Little Rock
North Little Rock, Arkansas
the city was 62.55% White, 33.98% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.18% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
over the Murray Lock and Dam, and is open only to pedestrian
Pedestrian
A pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. In some communities, those traveling using roller skates or skateboards are also considered to be pedestrians. In modern times, the term mostly refers to someone walking on a road or footpath, but this was not the case...
and bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
traffic. The bridge is also the longest pedestrian/bicycle bridge in North America that has never been used by cars or trucks. (NOTE: The longest in the United States is the Chain of Rocks Bridge
Chain of Rocks Bridge
The Chain of Rocks Bridge spans the Mississippi River on the north edge of St. Louis, Missouri. The eastern end of the bridge is on Chouteau Island, , while the western end is on the Missouri shoreline....
on the north edge of St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
at 5350 feet (1,630.7 m), but it is a refurbished former highway bridge.) At 4,226 feet (1288 m.) in length, the Big Dam Bridge rises to 90 feet (27.4 m) over the surface of the Arkansas River and 30 feet (9.1 m) over the dam. The span over the river is 3,463 feet (1055 m.), with the ramps on either side of the river accounting for the rest of the length. The southern end of the bridge is near Little Rock's Murray Park, while the northern end is at Cook's Landing Park in North Little Rock.
The nickname was given by Pulaski County Judge F.G. “Buddy” Villines, who was concerned about the financing needed and was quoted to say, "We're going to build that dam bridge." (He insisted he was referring to its location on a dam, and was not using the mild expletive.) The total construction cost was $12.8 million.
The opening ceremony was on Saturday, September 30, 2006. Local politicians boasted the Big Dam Bridge will boost the local economy and also contribute to the local health of the population. The bridge and adjacent parks are used for several races including the Big Dam Bridge 100 cycling tour, the BDB Twilight 5k race, and the BDB Duathlon.
The Federal Highway Administration gave one of its first Exemplary Human Environment Initiative awards to the bridge, and Illuminating Engineer Society gave its Award of Merit at the international level to the bridge's LED lighting design.