Hernando de Soto Bridge Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Hernando de Soto Bridge
Hernando de Soto Bridge photographed from the Memphis Pyramid
Coordinates	35°09′10″N 90°03′50″W / 35.15278°N 90.06389°W / 35.15278; -90.06389
Carries	6 lanes of I-40
Crosses	Mississippi River
Locale	West Memphis, Arkansas, and Memphis, Tennessee
Other name(s)	The M Bridge, Memphis Bridge, Mississippi Bridge, New Bridge
Maintained by	TDOT and AHTD
ID number	79I00400001
Characteristics
Design	Cable-stayed, through arch
Material	Steel
Pier construction	Concrete
Total length	9,432.6 feet (2,875 m)
Width	90 feet (27 m)
Longest span	900 feet (274 m)
Clearance below	109 feet (33 m)
History
Opened	August 2, 1973; 51 years ago (1973-08-02)
Statistics
Daily traffic	37,308 (2018)

The Hernando de Soto Bridge is a famous bridge that crosses the Mississippi River. It connects West Memphis, Arkansas, and Memphis, Tennessee. This bridge carries Interstate 40, a major highway, across the river.

People in Memphis often call it the "M Bridge" because of its unique shape. It looks like a giant "M" when you see it from above! Some also call it the "New Bridge" because it was built after another bridge nearby.

History of the Bridge
Bridge Lights at Night
- New LED Lighting Display
Earthquake Safety Project
Gallery
See also

History of the Bridge

Planning for this bridge started in 1960. It was part of a bigger project to build Interstate 40 between Memphis and Little Rock. Before this bridge was finished, cars had to use the Memphis & Arkansas Bridge. That bridge is about 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest of the Hernando de Soto Bridge.

Building the Hernando de Soto Bridge began in May 1967. It has a special double-arch design. The bridge opened for cars on August 2, 1973. A special ceremony to celebrate the bridge happened on August 17, 1973. The bridge cost about $57 million to build. That's like $256 million today!

The bridge is named after Hernando de Soto. He was a Spanish explorer from the 1500s. He explored this part of the Mississippi River.

Bridge Lights at Night

At night, the Hernando de Soto Bridge lights up! About 200 special lights shine along its "M" shape. The bridge was first lit up on September 5, 1986. People raised $373,000 in private money to pay for the lights.

Sometimes, the lights reflect on the water. This can make it hard for boats on the river to see. So, the city added a special switch. It lets them turn the lights off for a short time when a boat passes.

During the 2011 Mississippi River floods, the bridge lights went dark for about two months. This was because the power equipment was removed. They did this to protect it from the floodwaters. The lights were turned back on in a ceremony on June 21, 2011.

New LED Lighting Display

Later, new LED lights were planned for the bridge. These new lights can change colors. They can also light up at the same time as the nearby Harahan Bridge. This project is called "Mighty Lights."

The new lighting system cost $14 million. This money also came from private donations. The new lights were planned to be ready by October 27, 2017.

Earthquake Safety Project

Since 2000, the bridge has been getting stronger. This is part of a "seismic retrofit" project. "Seismic" means related to earthquakes. The goal is to help the bridge survive a very strong earthquake. It is designed to withstand an earthquake similar to the 1811–12 New Madrid earthquakes.

The bridge is important for cargo and traffic. It is also less than 100 miles (160 km) from the New Madrid Seismic Zone. This area has had big earthquakes in the past. So, making the bridge stronger is very important.

Work on this project happens as money becomes available. Parts of the main bridge and its ramps are being made stronger. A smaller bridge nearby was also rebuilt to be earthquake-safe. The state of Tennessee pays 60% of the cost. Arkansas pays 40%. So far, $175 million has been spent. Another $80 million is expected.