I-55 Bridge in Memphis

[Plutonic Panda]

It would be cool to see the old one rehabbed and preserved, turned into a local road with reduced lanes.

[PColumbus73]

Not keen on the flared towers myself.

[ElishaGOtis]

Sneak peek of what this bridge may look like:



https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/new-i-55-bridge-rendering-unveiled-as-ardot-reminds-drivers-of-weekend-closure/article_5903235c-b52c-419a-b561-d966e1646ab9.html

Wow I've never seen that design used before it's so revolutionary and beautiful   

(sarcasm intended)

[LilianaUwU]

Cable-stayed bridges being used as a prominent point of a skyline in American cities:

[ElishaGOtis]

Cable-stayed bridges being used as a prominent point of a skyline in American cities:

That and in many Asian countries, including China and Korea. I'll admit I do kinda like how they put the name of the bridge on some of their bridge towers (albeit it's far easier to do in those languages)... curious if something like that would be possible for this bridge (putting MLKJ, Elvis, BB, and Kings on each support tower).

[MikeTheActuary]

Has there been an announcement on how tall the bridge towers will be?

[PColumbus73]

Cable-stayed bridges being used as a prominent point of a skyline in American cities:

That and in many Asian countries, including China and Korea. I'll admit I do kinda like how they put the name of the bridge on some of their bridge towers (albeit it's far easier to do in those languages)... curious if something like that would be possible for this bridge (putting MLKJ, Elvis, BB, and Kings on each support tower).

I've made my opinions about the cable-stayed bridges back in the Francis Scott Key Bridge thread before it went cuckoo bananas. I've come to view cable-stayed bridges as equivalent to the cantilever truss bridges in that they're more utilitarian and less graceful than a suspension bridge.

[The Ghostbuster]

I think a cable-stay Memphis & Arkansas Bridge will look a lot better than the existing bridge.

[Plutonic Panda]

I think a cable-stay Memphis & Arkansas Bridge will look a lot better than the existing bridge.

Matter of opinion. I've grown to like truss bridges.

[roadman65]

https://www.tn.gov/tdot/news/2025/8/20/tennessee-and-arkansas-unveil-new-name-for-i-55-bridge--kings--crossing-.html

Both states came up with the name Kings Crossing to name the proposed crossing.

[Great Lakes Roads]

https://www.tn.gov/tdot/news/2025/8/20/tennessee-and-arkansas-unveil-new-name-for-i-55-bridge--kings--crossing-.html

Both states came up with the name Kings Crossing to name the proposed crossing.

Post #162 on this thread (by me ofc)...

[The Ghostbuster]

Hopefully, the King's Cross district and train station in London won't object to the name.

[roadman65]

https://www.tn.gov/tdot/news/2025/8/20/tennessee-and-arkansas-unveil-new-name-for-i-55-bridge--kings--crossing-.html

Both states came up with the name Kings Crossing to name the proposed crossing.

Post #162 on this thread (by me ofc)...

Well I only go back so many posts so no offense. Just shows many of us follow the same stuff.  I'm glad they are honoring Dr MLK and BB King as well as Elvis in one name.

Great choice.

[bwana39]

Sneak peek of what this bridge may look like:



https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/new-i-55-bridge-rendering-unveiled-as-ardot-reminds-drivers-of-weekend-closure/article_5903235c-b52c-419a-b561-d966e1646ab9.html

Wow I've never seen that design used before it's so revolutionary and beautiful   

(sarcasm intended)

Did FIGG design it?

[ElishaGOtis]

Sneak peek of what this bridge may look like:



https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/new-i-55-bridge-rendering-unveiled-as-ardot-reminds-drivers-of-weekend-closure/article_5903235c-b52c-419a-b561-d966e1646ab9.html

Wow I've never seen that design used before it's so revolutionary and beautiful   

(sarcasm intended)

Did FIGG design it?

Parsons Transportation Group, Inc. apparently did the design.

https://www.tn.gov/tdot/news/2024/10/3/design-firm-selected-for-america-s-river-crossing.html

https://www.parsons.com/bridge/

They also did the Abraham Lincoln Bridge (NB I-65 Ohio River Bridge), the Lewis and Clark Bridge (future I-265 KY/IN) the Goethals Bridge, the newer Tacoma Narrows Bridge, and the Gordie Howe Bridge.

[bwana39]

Sneak peek of what this bridge may look like:



https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/new-i-55-bridge-rendering-unveiled-as-ardot-reminds-drivers-of-weekend-closure/article_5903235c-b52c-419a-b561-d966e1646ab9.html

Wow I've never seen that design used before it's so revolutionary and beautiful   

(sarcasm intended)

Did FIGG design it?

Parsons Transportation Group, Inc. apparently did the design.

https://www.tn.gov/tdot/news/2024/10/3/design-firm-selected-for-america-s-river-crossing.html

https://www.parsons.com/bridge/

They also did the Abraham Lincoln Bridge (NB I-65 Ohio River Bridge), the Lewis and Clark Bridge (future I-265 KY/IN) the Goethals Bridge, the newer Tacoma Narrows Bridge, and the Gordie Howe Bridge.

I knew most of that . I was matching sarcasm with sarcasm

[Anthony_JK]

Hey, I like it....beats looking at that old rusty truss metal any day of the week.

[Revive 755]

Hey, I like it....beats looking at that old rusty truss metal any day of the week.

Given how much they seem to be dwindling, I'd much rather look at the old, more complex truss bridge, although with a new coat paint, maybe a twin span.

Although the cable-stayed design could be interesting if they'd go for a longer main span and have less piers in the water (based on https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tdot/region-4/americas-river-crossing-pdfs/132733-01%20Revised%20LineandGrade%20Layout%20for%20PH.pdf).

[bwana39]

The whole point of building the new span here as opposed to somewhere else boils down to the "WHY" it cannot be kept in place.

The logic of rebuilding it in the same (general) location is the idea that the existing truss is in danger of failing / falling if the New Madrid Fault spikes a major earthquake. Some posit that the next big one to his mid-America is actually overdue.  Because of said "danger" there is the perception that both the state and federal government will likely come up with reserved funds to get ahead of said danger of failure. In a nutshell, the affected states will get more federal funds to replace a bridge that has a high likelihood of failure in addition to their regular highway funding.

Will a bridge that is more failure resistant actually make a difference? (Note "resistant" not failureproof)?

My belief is the new (interstate) bridge should either cross further south in Memphis / Shelby County or even in Mississippi and use the existing bridge for local traffic. (The existing bridge would work great as 1 lane either direction + 1 lane that switches directions. ) 

The problem is that the if that big of an earthquake hit several things could happen. 

The replacement bridge itself could fail.
The river could reroute
The approaches and bridges between West Memphis and the river could fail.
Memphis itself could be destroyed.

In the Loma Prieta earthquake. There was some moderate damage to the Bay Bridge, but it was closed a very short time and reopened. Then they got the money to correct a failure prone bridge.   Perhaps due to the fact the Bay Bridge had shifted  over 6" there MAY have been a need to replace it BEFORE the next major quake, but it actually withstood  the quake better than other types of structures. Realistically the more severe damage was to  concrete structures in both Oakland and San Francisco.

[CtrlAltDel]

Sneak peek of what this bridge may look like:



https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/new-i-55-bridge-rendering-unveiled-as-ardot-reminds-drivers-of-weekend-closure/article_5903235c-b52c-419a-b561-d966e1646ab9.html

I'd like it a bit better if the towers were vertical instead of splayed out like that.

[Bobby5280]

Given how common that splayed out look is with certain cable stay bridge designs I'm guessing there is some sort of engineering reason for the towers to be angled like that.

[I-39]

When is this project scheduled to start?

[davewiecking]

The article says by end of 2026, so that would be my guess.

[Road Hog]

Given how common that splayed out look is with certain cable stay bridge designs I'm guessing there is some sort of engineering reason for the towers to be angled like that.

I'm guessing the reason for angling the towers like that is because of seismic concerns. When New Madrid blows, the shock waves will be coming from the side, so lateral stability will be critical.