Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
US-65/US-84 Mississippi River Crossing At Natchez
Natchez, Mississippi

US-65/US-84 Bridge

Westbound Span
• Structure ID: NBI: 21000840010001A.
• Location: River Mile 363.30.
• Length: 4,205 Feet Overall, 3 Spans Of 848 Feet Each.
• Width: 24 Feet, 2 Lanes.
• Date Built: Opened September 26, 1940.
   
Eastbound Span
• Structure ID: NBI: 21000840010001B.
• Location: River Mile 363.29.
• Length: 4,202 Feet Overall, 3 Spans Of 848 Feet Each.
• Width: 42 Feet, 2 Lanes Plus Shoulder.
• Date Built: Opened July 1988.
   
Statistics Common To Both Bridges
• River Elevation: 30 Feet.
• Highway: US-65 / US-84.
• Daily Traffic Count: 29,680 (2004).
• Bridge Type: Continuous Steel Truss Through Deck.
• Navigation Channel Width: 848 Feet.
• Height Above Water: 125 Feet.
This is actually two bridges, one bridge is of 1940 vintage (upstream), the other bridge is of 1988 vintage. While they look the same, the older upstream bridge is narrower. Beyond that, they have the same footprint.

In visiting this area, I was curious why two such small towns as Natchez, Mississippi, and Vidalia, Louisiana, could justify not just one but two huge bridges across the Mississippi River. The City of Vidalia web site clears up the issue noting that over 2-million people live within 200-miles of the twin spans, and the bridges carry nearly 30,000 vehicles per day on average.


US-65/US-84 Bridge
US-65/US-84 Bridge US-65/US-84 Bridge
US-65/US-84 Bridge
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US-65/US-84 Bridge
US-65/US-84 Bridge
US-65/US-84 Bridge
US-65/US-84 Bridge
US-65/US-84 Bridge

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Photo and text by John A. Weeks III, Copyright © 2005, all rights reserved.
For further information, contact: john@johnweeks.com