Rising waters cause shutdown of Big River Crossing

Rising waters cause shutdown of Big River Crossing

Wheeless announces temporary closure on Arkansas side

ralphhardin@gmail.com Crittenden County Judge Woody Wheeless has issued a directive temporarily closing down access to the Big River Crossing ahead of rising waters along the Mississippi River “The Big River Crossing bicycle and walking trail will be closed beginning [Tuesday] due to Mississippi River flooding inside the levee,” said Wheeless.

“There will still be access from the Tennessee side only at this time.”

Wheeless reported at noon Monday, the river stage was 25.8 feet with an anticipated rise to 34.5 feet by Wednesday May 10.

“At 34 feet in Arkansas, Dacus Lake Road and Robinson Road will be totally flooded and the flooding will not allow for any vehicle or bicycle traffic until the water recedes,” Wheeless said.

The judge added that local authorities will continue to monitor the situation and will work to get the popular bicycle and walking trail re-opened “as soon as possible.”

Heavy equipment from the BNSF bridge rehabilitation project has been moved up hill onto the service road in anticipation of rising river water.

“That’s always a good rule of thumb when those contractors start moving the machinery out of there it is time,” said West Memphis City Planning Director Paul Luker, who noted that river levels are unpredictable from year-to-year, but the possibility of some seasonal temporary closures was anticipated from the beginning of the project.

“It generally happens about this time most years,” said Luker. “It just depends. Last year it flooded in January and did not come up this time last year like it is coming up now.”

Luker said the shutdown was necessary for safety reasons.

“Right now we have to watch the river levels and react to it,” said Luker. “We got so much of rain over the weekend up north of us and with the river already being high it started coming up real fast. We closed some gates yesterday to keep out of the lowest part.”

Those who still need their BRX fix can access the pathway from Tennessee, at least for now.

“People will still be able to walk across the Big River Crossing from the Memphis side but the gate will be closed on our end,” said Luker.

Judge Wheeless urged common sense and safety.

“Please do not attempt to go through the flood waters,”

he said.

By Ralph Hardin