Charles W. Dean Bridge

The Charles W. Dean Bridge is a proposed road bridge spanning the Mississippi River between Arkansas City, Arkansas and Benoit, Mississippi. The design includes twin towers and a long span engineered to clear river traffic while maintaining a direct crossing between the two states.

The bridge project emerged from regional engineering proposals in the 1980s and received its current name through legislation in 1999. Environmental approval was granted in 2004, yet construction has not commenced.

The bridge represents a connection point between the Mississippi Delta communities, linking agricultural regions and local populations across state lines.

The bridge does not yet exist as a physical structure, so no crossing is possible at this location. Visitors can explore the riverbanks and the surrounding Delta landscape where the bridge would eventually span.

Despite being classified as shovel-ready and receiving all required environmental permits, the project has never been constructed. The absence of approximately 565 million dollars in funding has stalled the initiative for decades.

Location: Mississippi

Location: Arkansas

GPS coordinates: 33.62000,-91.13610

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:08