New Mississippi River bridge to pay tribute to MLK, B.B. King, Elvis

The new Interstate 55 bridge that will connect West Memphis, Arkansas, and Memphis, Tennessee, will be named Kings’ Crossing in honor of three cultural figures linked to the region: civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., blues musician B.B. King, and rock ’n’ roll icon Elvis Presley.

The Arkansas Highway Commission and the Tennessee General Assembly approved the name change, transportation officials from both states announced this week.

“It’s only fitting to name this vital crossing after three historic figures from this region,” Arkansas Department of Transportation Director Jared Wiley said in a statement. “It truly is the result of a regional effort that will benefit industry across this national corridor and the thousands of individuals who depend on this connection each day.”

Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Will Reid called the new name “a symbol of our collective history, heritage, and the enduring spirit of unity that defines this region.”

The current I-55 bridge, a major commercial route across the Mississippi River, is 75 years old and is scheduled to be replaced with a larger structure designed to meet modern seismic standards. Officials said construction could begin in fiscal year 2026 after environmental review and right-of-way coordination are complete.

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded nearly $400 million in July 2024 toward the project, with Arkansas and Tennessee each committing up to $200 million.

Officials said the $800 million replacement effort is the single largest transportation investment in the history of both states.

Image: Arkansas Department of Transportation