Notice to Media

Great River Bridge Location To Receive Final Federal Approval

May 3, 2000

LITTLE ROCK (5-03) – Members of the Arkansas Highway Commission, the Mississippi Highway Commission and officials from the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD), the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will attend a Great River Bridge Compact meeting to announce the selection of a new Mississippi River bridge location, according to AHTD Director Dan Flowers.

Location and environmental studies have been underway since 1993 to establish the best route for this major river crossing.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will give their final approval of the states’ selection of a location for the Great River Bridge linking Arkansas and Mississippi.

“This is a significant step forward for this project,” Highway Commissioner John “M” Lipton, Compact Co-chair, commented. “This announcement today signifies continued progress toward making this project a reality.”

The meeting will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, 2000, at the Community Center located at #18 Belmont Drive in Dumas for the official announcement of the selected location.

This project, which will add another Mississippi River crossing between Arkansas and Mississippi, is a joint effort between the two states. “This project is a great example of cooperation between the states and the federal government. We have all worked hard to get the project to this stage,” added Flowers.

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