Articles > Main Street to Main Street Multi-Modal Connector Project

Main Street to Main Street Multi-Modal Connector Project

Posted: Monday, October 15, 2012
The Main Street to Main Street Connector Project formalizes a partnership with the states of Tennessee and Arkansas and the municipalities of Memphis and Shelby County, TN and West Memphis and Crittenden County, AR. The Main Street to Main Street Connector Project is a 10-mile regional, multi-modal corridor that will increase and improve alternative transportation options in the Memphis metro area and connect Tennessee to Arkansas via a converted roadway bridge with a new multi-use trail. 

The scope of work for this project will include streetscape, utility, sidewalk, roadway, and drainage improvements along Downtown Memphis Main Street; conversion of the existing roadways on the Harahan Bridge to a bicycle and pedestrian bridge, and construction of new multi-use trails to connect the bridge with new Broadway Avenue improvements in West Memphis, Arkansas. The total project cost is estimated at $30 million and can be financed with a TIGER grant and variety of local and state funding sources. 

The project strengthens and connects the main streets of each downtown using the historic Harahan Bridge as a restored centerpiece. The Harahan Bridge was built in 1916-17 as the first span across the Mississippi River, in Memphis, Tennessee connecting both rail and vehicular traffic. The project will rebuild former roadways on the bridge for bicycle and pedestrian connection to the main streets in both cities. 

The improvements of Downtown Memphis Main Street will increase its civic importance as the central spine of Downtown Memphis. This three mile reinvestment project along the Downtown trolley corridor will involve streetscape, utility, sidewalk, roadway, and drainage improvements. The Main Street corridor connects Uptown to South Main and encompasses an 8-block pedestrian-transit mall, the Main Street trolley line, and a multi-model transit facility at each end. 

West Memphis Broadway Avenue revitalization enhances this historic downtown commercial corridor through streetscape improvements including: period-style lighting; street trees; landscaping (ground cover, shrubbery, flowers); new curb, gutter and handicap accessible sidewalks. This leverages and extends an enhancement project completed in 2007. 

The long-term outcomes engendered by this project include: increased accessibility for residents, workers, and tourists; decreases in fuel consumption and air pollution; health cost savings from exercise; decreases in flood damage costs; increased occupancy rates for commercial businesses that will support additional jobs; and strengthens the economies of both Main Streets.  

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