The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) has selected Parsons Transportation Group for the Interstate 55 bridge replacement project, according to a news release by the department.
"Parsons Transportation Group, Inc. has over 80 years of experience in global infrastructure. They are committed to designing a modern, safe, resilient structure that will replace the existing I-55 bridge built in 1949," the release stated.
The bridge connects West Memphis and Memphis across the Mississippi River. By the year 2050, it will support a projected 64,000 vehicles traveling between Arkansas and Tennessee, according to ARDOT.
The project is a joint effort between ARDOT and the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
The U.S. Department of Transportation provided a $394 million grant for the bridge replacement through the Bridge Investment Program. The remaining cost will be split evenly between the two states, with each state paying up to $250 million for the project, according to the release.
The bridge will reduce future maintenance costs, meet modern seismic code and enhance multimodal and nonmotorized connectivity, among other things, Tennessee officials said.
"This is another major milestone toward replacing the aging I-55 bridge connecting Arkansas and Tennessee," said Arkansas Department of Transportation Director Lorie Tudor. "We look forward to collaborating with (our Tennessee partners) and Parsons Transportation Group on the design of this critical structure."
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Source: ARDOT, Arkansas Online
