Memphis, TN- Leaders on both sides of the Mississippi River are wanting to build third bridge.
After two major traffic events on Wednesday brought the passage from Arkansas to Tennessee to a stop, leaders are wanting to bring so many traffic halts to a stop.
Memphis’ Action News 5 talked to West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon and Tennessee State Representative Joe Towns (D-Memphis) who both say the money there to make it happen
“The infrastructure money that is in the White House or at the national level, you blend that with the money that we would put there, and you blend that with the money that would come from Arkansas, this would probably be the least cost that we would all have to pay to attain this bridge,” Tennessee Rep. Towns (D-Memphis) said.
Mayor McClendon says a third bridge would help divert traffic out of the city, as it’s destroying the infrastructure.
“So, when they get in our community and city, we don’t have all those infrastructure dollars to be able to repair the streets,” said McClendon.
The bridge would hopefully be just north of Shelby Forest State Park.
Mayor McClendon says Arkansas officials are on board, and that he’s just waiting for action to be made.
“[They’re] saying that we need to do it, but I need to see something in action. I am so tired of the political BS when it comes to doing right by the people.”
The I-55 bridge is now back opening following a closure over the weekend for work on the Crump interchange project.