Abandoned/collapsed bridge piers near Mena

Urban exploration in Arkansas
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bugo
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Abandoned/collapsed bridge piers near Mena

Post by bugo »

The bridge in question is on CR 48 over the Mountain Fork River west of the Potter community,west of Mena. CR 48 now crosses on a bridge that was built in the late 70s. Just upstream is a low-water bridge that has been abandoned since the new bridge opened. Between the two bridges are 3 piers and 2 bridge abutments. One of the piers is still in its original location, one is leaning against the west abutment, and one is lying in the water on its side. I don't know the story behind the piers, my guess is that a replacement bridge was being constructed and a flood knocked some of the piers down. From the looks of the piers the bridge was of an earlier design than the bridge that was actually built. I can't tell if the span was to be a truss or some sort of concrete bridge, but there was either to be a long span across the main part of the river, or there were going to be more piers put into the river.
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Modified aerial photo showing the area around the bridges
Modified aerial photo showing the area around the bridges
0.jpg (98.46 KiB) Viewed 6867 times
View of low water bridge from new bridge, note collapsed pier in foreground
View of low water bridge from new bridge, note collapsed pier in foreground
0007.JPG (42.24 KiB) Viewed 6867 times
Another view of low water bridge
Another view of low water bridge
0004.JPG (53.14 KiB) Viewed 6867 times
Abandoned low water bridge
Abandoned low water bridge
0002.JPG (50.58 KiB) Viewed 6867 times
Last edited by bugo on Wed Dec 28, 2005 2:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
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bugo
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RE: Abandoned/collapsed bridge piers near Mena

Post by bugo »

More pics...
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Pier, taken from 1979 bridge
Pier, taken from 1979 bridge
1007.JPG (56.14 KiB) Viewed 6866 times
Pier in river, facing eastward, note abutment in woods behind pier
Pier in river, facing eastward, note abutment in woods behind pier
1004.JPG (61.18 KiB) Viewed 6866 times
Pier in river, with piers in woods visible
Pier in river, with piers in woods visible
1002.JPG (58.44 KiB) Viewed 6866 times
Close up of pier
Close up of pier
1001.JPG (48.45 KiB) Viewed 6866 times
Pier lying in river
Pier lying in river
1000.JPG (51.06 KiB) Viewed 6866 times
Pier in water and piers in woods from new bridge
Pier in water and piers in woods from new bridge
1006.JPG (51.04 KiB) Viewed 6865 times
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bugo
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RE: Abandoned/collapsed bridge piers near Mena

Post by bugo »

Pics of pier and abutment on west side of river
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Abutment with pier leaning against it, taken from atop modern bridge
Abutment with pier leaning against it, taken from atop modern bridge
2005.JPG (43.75 KiB) Viewed 6864 times
Abutment and tree
Abutment and tree
2001.JPG (65.4 KiB) Viewed 6864 times
West abutment with collapsed pier leaning against it
West abutment with collapsed pier leaning against it
2000.JPG (47.8 KiB) Viewed 6864 times
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bugo
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RE: Abandoned/collapsed bridge piers near Mena

Post by bugo »

This pier and abutment are located on the east side of the river. They can be seen in the woods behind the pier that has collapsed into the river.
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Pier and abutment in woods
Pier and abutment in woods
3004.JPG (68.62 KiB) Viewed 6862 times
Pier
Pier
3003.JPG (57.44 KiB) Viewed 6862 times
Abutment
Abutment
3002.JPG (57.89 KiB) Viewed 6862 times
Pier and abutment in woods
Pier and abutment in woods
3000.JPG (72.7 KiB) Viewed 6862 times
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bugo
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RE: Abandoned/collapsed bridge piers near Mena

Post by bugo »

Assorted pics
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1979 bridge with collapsed pier in foreground
1979 bridge with collapsed pier in foreground
4001.JPG (37.63 KiB) Viewed 6861 times
Debris stuck in bridge
Debris stuck in bridge
4003.JPG (24.62 KiB) Viewed 6861 times
Old roadbed leading to low water crossing
Old roadbed leading to low water crossing
5000.JPG (53.97 KiB) Viewed 6861 times
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RE: Abandoned/collapsed bridge piers near Mena

Post by whipping_post »

And no graffiti! Great find mate, I'm highly impressed!
I will not make any deals with you. I've resigned. I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own. I resign.
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bugo
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RE: Abandoned/collapsed bridge piers near Mena

Post by bugo »

I've known about this place my entire life, but I never thought to take pictures of it. I never knew the piers in the woods were there until I took these pictures (the foliage hides them in summer, and I had never been down there in the winter).
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