The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department will dedicate the new US Highway 63 bridge at Black Rock. The bridge is located 10 miles west of Walnut Ridge. Black Rock Mayor Bonnie Ragsdale tells what this bridge means to the region.
“It is a very nice bridge. It has been a long time in coming because we have needed it for several years. I see it helping the economy for a long time for not just Black Rock, but also for Lawrence County.”
The $40 million bridge replaces the old bridge that had weight limits placed on it.
“I was very concerned about the old bridge because I knew it was not safe. It looked like it was about to fall in. When the old bridge was listed as a 26 on a 100-point scale of safety, that told me it needed to be replaced. This new bridge is perfect and there is nothing wrong with it.”
She estimates between five and six thousand vehicles will pass on the bridge per day, including rock haulers from rock crushers who had make long detours to avoid the old Black Rock Bridge.
