Highway Signage Impoving at Lakeport

     More highways signs were installed this week on Highway 82 at the foot of the new Mississippi river bridge.  For several weeks the signs noting the location of Highway 142 were missing. This has confused a few guests, who eventually did find us. Were there others who didn't? So, no more confusion. We have green highway signs that point you to Lakport (AR side only) and Highway 142 signs to remind drivers that 142 is near and arrowed Highway 142 signs showing the highway (AR and MS sides). We are still waiting for a brown highway sign for Lakeport Plantaiton for drivers coming off the bridge from Mississippi (UPDATE:  Sign was installed in the second week of December 2010).

  There lead up to the new bridge is also improved.  There are now four lanes and a turn off lane for Highway 142.

New Green Directional Highway Sign, Hwy 82 heading east 

New Hwy 142 Turn off sign.

Brown Lakeport Plantation sign at Hwy 82E & Hwy 142 (The AR Hwy Dept calls these Tourist Oriented Directional Signs [TODS])  Also, notice the improved turn off lane.

Brown Lakeport Plantation sign at Hwy 82W & Hwy 142 ( For west bound motorists).

New Sign marking the Mississippi River.

New Highway 142 Sign on Hwy 82W (coming off MS River Bridge)

Bridge May Open First Week in August

According to a news source (WXVT-Greenville), the bridge opening has been delayed and will likely open next week--August 1-7.

http://www.wxvt.com/global/story.asp?s=12887342

Rain Stalls Bridge Opening

Posted: July 28, 2010 07:13 PM

Two days after a ribbon cutting, transportation officials say the opening of the new Mississippi River Bridge, connecting Greenville, Miss., to Lake Village, Ark., may be delayed.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation had said the bridge would open on Wednesday, July 28. However, as the Monday dedication grew closer, officials said the opening would be at a later, unspecified date. During the dedication, they hoped to have it ready by the end of the week.

On Wednesday, MDOT project engineer Steele Davis said inclement weather has delayed completion of the final stages of construction. That work includes paving the road connecting the new bridge to U.S. Highway 82. Davis says the opening may be during the week of Aug. 1-7.

Remembering the Old Bridge; Getting Ready for the New

Alvin, Katie & Mary Jane Ford on Greenville Bridge, ca. 1952. Photo found behind Dining Room Mantel at Lakeport

This post is a companion to today's Southern Fried Blog, where Rex Nelson looks back at the old Greenville Bridge. The old bridge is slated for demolition later this year, since no one has offered to relocate it.

Greenville-Lake Village Bridge postcard, ca. 1955.

As the bridge opened in 1940, the Delta Democrat-Times (Greenville, MS) reported the ferry operation of the Greenville Bridge & Ferry Co. was transporting "200 to 300 cars, plus trucks and busses" each day.

Delta Democrat-Times, September 15, 1940

"Visit Beautiful Lake Village Over the Free Bridge," Delta Democrat-Times, October 29, 1950

As the new Bridge opens, Lake Village would like to welcome visitors again. Come see Paul Michaels, the Cow Pen, Lake Chicot, Lakeshore Cafe, Rhoda, and Lakeport Plantation.

The new bridge will be dedicated at 10 am on Monday, July 26 and will open to traffic on Wednesday, July 28. Lakeport will be open Saturday, July 31. I'll post more about our Saturday hours tomorrow.