1927 Abandoned/Rock Island Bridge over White River at De Valls Bluff, AR

(Archived Bridge Hunter; no Historic Bridges; Satellite)

This bridge replaced an 1871 bridge that was damaged in 1923, and it was abandoned in 1982. [Bridge Hunter Index]

"Design of a new structure was started in 1923, with the American Bridge Co and the Kansas City Bridge Co handling construction. The bridge is 2,671 ft [814m] long including approaches - the center span is 187 ft [57m] and is lifted vertically 55 ft. [17m] above the river. It was dedicated and placed in service on January 15, 1927." [John Shirey comment on BridgeHunter]

Putrica Stoneriglo posted eight photos with the comment: "This is the Rock Island bridge, in the early 90s, at De Valls Bluff, Arkansas  Pat.M."

Tim Shanahan shared

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Street View, Aug 2022

Matt Nichols posted six photos with the comment:

DeVall's Bluff Rock Island Bridge 

Located just outside DeVall's Bluff over the White River, this huge center-lift bridge was built in 1923 by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad to replace an earlier bridge damaged in a flood. 

A bridge operator, working out of the small hut on the side of the bridge, would have been on duty 24/7 to raise the span for boats on the White River. It remained in continuous operation until Rock Island's infamous 1980s bankruptcy. After the bankruptcy, the bridge was permanently locked in the "raised" position and a water main was constructed across the deck.

Today the bridge is an architectural landmark that can easily be seen by anyone traveling down Highway 70 or along the White River by boat.

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