Historic Helena Steel Bridge — Attraction in Arkansas

Another scary narrow high bridge, the Helena Bridge carries US-49 across the Mississippi River and joins the communities of Helena Arkansas with Lula Mississippi. It was built in 1961 and was initially a toll bridge but is since free.

It is a cantilever bridge that continues for an insane 5,204 feet and has a clearance of 119 feet down to the river with a single (narrow) lane in each direction. And believe me, when you're looking at that three foot concrete barrier and seeing that massive distance down to the water, oh my goodness.

If you're looking for a frightening crossing, this is it. If you're looking for something a whole lot more peaceful, try either of the bridges in Memphis (upriver to the north) or the Greenville bridge (downriver to the south) or the Vicksburg bridge (even further downriver).

I've now crossed the Mississippi on all of those bridges as well as the ones (south to north) in Baton Rouge, Cairo, Cape Girardeau, five in the Saint Louis area, Hannibal, La Crosse and two in the Minneapolis...

Bridges are intriguing things ain't they? Rhetorical question I suppose. So you're in your truck going down the road and suddenly you realize there is a bridge up ahead there. So you probably get excited cause you about to cross the mighty Mississippi. Into the high class world of the State of Mississippi or the good ole Arkansas world pending which way you be headed friend. But one things sure as pumpkins ain't cauliflower. And that be this here bridge...

Crossing this bridge takes you from a county with one of the highest murder rates in the nation to another county with one of the highest murder rates in the nation. Very rough roads on either side of the bridge as well. Will not return to...