Built 1933 NRHP Reference # 90000516 Area 3,642 m² Body of water St. Francis River Nearest city Madison | Architectural style Swing through-truss Opened 1933 Bridge type Swing bridge Added to NRHP 9 April 1990 | |
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Architect Arkansas Highway & Transportation; Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Co. MPS Historic Bridges of Arkansas MPS | ||
The St. Francis River Bridge carries United States Route 70 over the St. Francis River near Madison in St. Francis County, Arkansas, United States. It consists of three Parker through trusses, each 162 feet (49 m) long, and a swing bridge span 230 feet (70 m) long. With approaches, the bridge has a total length of 921 feet (281 m). The swing span is mounted on a central pier, and is rotated by two workers operating a large hickory handle. The bridge was built in 1932-33, with the swing span design made to accommodate the demands of the United States War Department that the river remain navigable by military vessels. The bridge is one of three swing-span bridges in the state. It is likely that the swinging mechanism has never been used.
The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.