New Mississippi River bridge to be called ‘Kings’ Crossing’
New Mississippi River bridge to be called ‘Kings’ Crossing’
As a nod to the history of Memphis and its association with “kings,” officials announced Wednesday that the new bridge to span the Mississippi River some years from now will be called “Kings’ Crossing.”
The name, agreed upon by the Tennessee General Assembly and the Arkansas Highway Commission, is meant to pay tribute to three “kings” associated with Memphis.
- The first is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who, in one of the city’s bleakest moments, was killed in Memphis in April 1968.
- The second is Elvis Presley, known as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
- And the third is the blues master himself, Riley “Blues Boy” King, known worldwide as just “B.B.”
“Naming this bridge in honor of these gentlemen pays tribute to their extraordinary legacies – individuals who transcended barriers, fostered cultural exchange, and used their talents to build bridges between people,” Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Will Reid said in a statement.
The new bridge is intended to replace the aging Memphis & Arkansas bridge (also called the I-55 bridge), which has ferried people between Tennessee and Arkansas since December 1949. In 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation earmarked $400 million for the project, and both Tennessee and Arkansas have promised to contribute up to $200 million each.