Saline River Bridge, Highway 15
(This item is located at the Bradley County Historical Museum
in the Dr. John Wilson Martin House at 200 Ash Street, Warren, AR 71671)

"WORK PROGRESSING"

The Eagle Democrat, August 8, 1990

"Work on the new Highway 15 Saline River bridge near the Cleveland-Bradley county line is progressing. The estimated completion date for the project is July 31, 1992, according to Claude Parton, assistant district engineer at the state Highway and Transportation district headquarters in Camden. The view above is looking north toward Cleveland County with the present bridge structure at left. Much of the work being done now is involving clearing and building up the new road bed. Most of the beautiful tree canopy on the north side has been cut to make way for the project. Parton said approximately 232,000 cubic yards of fill material is being hauled in to build the new road bed. Approach bridges on either side of the main structure, one in Bradley County and the other near the county line, are also included in the project which calls for a 40 foot wide surfaced area. L&A Construction of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is the contractor for the major project, totalling $3,882,192.95. After the project is completed the old bridge will be removed and the road bed will be converted into a access area for a boat launch on the river, according to parton, with most of the funds coming from the state Game and Fish Commission. Early last year, the Highway 15 bridge over Saline River was listed as one of the "two worst Arkansas bridges." The highway curves in the approaches to either end of the bridge and the dump ia extremely narrow. The old bridge, constructed for $124,173, was built in 1929-1930. With construction of a new bridge over the Ouachita River at Moro Bay, replacing the ferry, traffic is expected to increase considerable along Highway 15. [Rison Herald]"

Click on the picture above to see a larger image of the photo.

This photograph appears courtesy of Brenda Ezell.