In remembrance of three cultural icons associated with the area—civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., blues artist B.B. King, and rock ‘n’ roll legend Elvis Presley—the new Interstate 55 bridge that will span the gap between West Memphis, Arkansas, and Memphis, Tennessee, will be named Kings Crossing.
Transportation authorities from both states announced this week that the name change was approved by the Tennessee General Assembly and the Arkansas Highway Commission.
Jared Wiley, director of the Arkansas Department of Transportation, stated in a statement that it is only appropriate to name this important crossing after three notable local personalities. Indeed, it is the outcome of a regional endeavor that will benefit the thousands of people who rely on this connection every day as well as industry along this national corridor.
The new name, according to Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Will Reid, is a representation of our shared history, culture, and the unwavering spirit of solidarity that characterizes this area.
The 75-year-old I-55 bridge, which spans the Mississippi River and is a vital business route, will soon be replaced by a bigger structure built to contemporary seismic standards. According to officials, after the environmental evaluation and right-of-way coordination are finished, building might start in fiscal year 2026.
Arkansas and Tennessee have committed up to $200 million each, while the U.S. Department of Transportation allocated roughly $400 million toward the project in July 2024.
The $800 million replacement project, according to officials, is the biggest transportation expenditure in both states’ history.
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