Two Rivers Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that marks the western portion of the Arkansas River Trail. Contrary to its name, the bridge does not connect two rivers. It connects to Two Rivers Park, which is located at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Maumelle rivers.
Two Rivers Bridge has been great for cyclists and hikers. Two Rivers Park is a desirable trail that is often overlooked due to the hassle of getting there. The trail is currently connected on a 14-mile loop to downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock, and offers access to Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Plans are in place to facilitate access to Pinnacle.
Leashed pets are allowed on the bridge and river trail. Please clean up after them!
History of the bridge
Of the Arkansas River Trail pedestrian bridges, the Two Rivers Bridge is only the second bridge to be built from scratch. The other new bridge is the Big Dam Bridge. The project was built by Jensen Construction, the same company that built the Big Dam Bridge. The two bridges are very similar in design.
One striking difference is the central section of the Two Rivers Bridge. The other pedestrian bridges on the Arkansas River Trail are repurposed rail bridges. The Two River Bridge gives a nod to those bridges with its red center section, which is designed to mimic a railway bridge.
Where / Hours
The Two Rivers Bridge is located just west of I-430 on River Mountain Road (map).
The Two Rivers Bridge is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, unless otherwise announced.
Fun facts
The Two Rivers Bridge is 1,368 feet long and has 13 spans.
The Two Rivers Bridge cost $ 5.3 million to build. The United States Department of Transportation paid 80 percent and Pulaski County paid the rest.
It opened to the public on July 23, 2011.
The LED lights on the Two River Bridge are reminiscent of the Big Dam Bridge, however the light and color ‘shows’ are not that impressive. The central section of the railroad seems to glow spectacularly when the LED lights are on, which is a nice touch. Sunset is a spectacular time to take pictures of or from the bridge.
You can see the 430 Bridge and the Big Dam Bridge from the Two Rivers Bridge.
Two Rivers Park
Two Rivers Park is a 1,000 acre area owned by the City of Little Rock and Pulaski County at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Maumelle rivers (hence the name). It has been a popular place for walkers and cyclists due to the natural environment. Getting there was a problem before the bridge.
Two Rivers Park offers approximately 450 acres of mostly forested wetlands and 550 acres of open country. It is the most natural portion of the river trail. You could be running alongside deer or other wildlife, making it perfect for bird watchers, photographers, and nature enthusiasts.
Two Rivers Park’s ‘Tree Garden’ project showcases native trees by transforming some of the fields into walkable tree gardens.
Finally, the Arkansas River Trail will connect Two Rivers Park with Pinnacle Mountain and the Ouachita Trail.
The six bridges
One of the most prominent features of the Little Rock skyline has always been the “six bridges” spanning the Arkansas River (photo of the six bridges at Butler Center). The Clinton Presidential Center was designed to resemble a bridge in reference to that horizon. Those six bridges are the Baring Cross Bridge, Broadway Bridge, Main Street Bridge, Junction Bridge, I-30 Bridge, and Rock Island Bridge.
Another set of bridges is being designed to connect the parks along the Arkansas River and allow people to walk or bike from downtown Clinton to Pinnacle Mountain and the Ouachita Trail. Four of those bridges are open: Two Rivers Bridge, Big Dam Bridge, Junction Bridge, and Clinton Presidential Park Bridge.
