The Baring Cross Bridge over the Arkansas River, which provided a vital link between Little Rock and North Little Rock, has a fascinating history stretching back about 150 years. I was happy to be invited to discuss that for the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program’s Sandwiching in History event. The monthly programs had been held in-person at the locations being discussed, except during the COVID-19 pandemic, when this was produced in December 2020. It was released the following month and can be viewed below.
Until the bridge was constructed by the Cairo and Fulton Railroad, ferries were used to move people and cargo across the river, which was a slow process. The single-track bridge opened on Dec. 21, 1873 and was used until the flood of 1927, when it was washed away on April 21, the Encyclopedia of Arkansas reports.
The bridge would be rebuilt by subsequent owner Missouri Pacific with two tracks, opening on Feb. 2, 1929. In the late 1960s, the swing span was replaced with a lift span, as were the two other railroad bridges in this area as part of the McClellan-Kerr Navigation System.
