New 65B Bridge Reopens in Downtown Harrison

Community members and local officials gathered Friday morning to celebrate the official dedication and ribbon-cutting of the new 65B Bridge over Crooked Creek. The event marked the completion of a significant infrastructure project aimed at improving safety and traffic flow in downtown Harrison.

The original bridge, which dated back to the 1930s, was closed on December 31, 2023, after inspections in 2018 determined it was time for a replacement. West Plains Bridge &: Grading LLC was awarded the contract to build the new structure. While the initial bid was approximately $9.7 million, the final cost of the project totaled $11,102,525.

Designed to last more than 75 years, the modern bridge features five lanes, including wider travel lanes and a dedicated center turning lane to facilitate smoother traffic movement toward the Harrison Square. To improve safety and accessibility, the bridge now includes expanded sidewalks for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as upgraded, state-of-the-art traffic signals at the intersection of Highway 7.

During the ceremony, Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) Director Jared Wiley emphasized that this project is part of a broader $100 million investment in Boone County over the last decade. Wiley noted that ARDOT has managed numerous regional improvements, including work on Highway 43 and Rock Springs Road, with future plans to widen Highway 65 between Industrial Park Road and Highway 7.

Mayor Jerry Jackson expressed his gratitude to the community for their patience during the construction period, which lasted nearly three years. The ceremony concluded with a symbolic first crossing, as Mayor Jackson drove a vehicle carrying the four keynote speakers across the new span. A video of the Ribbon Cutting ceremony posted to the Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce Facebook page can be seen by clicking here.

With the bridge now open, officials expect traffic patterns to return to normal while providing a safer, more modern entryway into the heart of the city.

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