Railway Structures
Big R solution is perfect stand-in for historic movie set landmark
An historic, but decaying, timber overpass bridge in Edwards, Mississippi had made the town famous as set for the final scenes of the Coen brothers’ film O Brother, Where Art Thou? starring George Clooney. So, when the call went out to replace it, there were obvious sensitivities.
The plot was complex. Class I railway, Kansas City Southern, needed to upgrade their line speeds and prepare clearances for a future second line. But the town wanted to still have a visual landmark and not impact adjacent historic properties. The new bridge had to both minimize approaches and maximize clearances. It also had to be economical and fast to install with minimal road or rail traffic interruption. All agreed that the best fit was a turn-key, design-and-supply solution from Big R Bridge. Clearly a natural for the part, a rugged, but rather good looking, Super•Cor® Arch was cast.

In the tight space, Big R’s MSE Structural Wall System with Pre-Cast Fascia was perfect in a supporting role for the head and wing walls. A heritage paint finish and an adobe brick form liner delivered the special effects the town wanted. And the project was able to use local contractors and backfill material to further reduce the cost. The reviews? A strong “two thumbs up” from all involved.
Save time and money with either of these Big R Bridge solutions:
Big R Modular Steel Bridges
- Heavy duty loading
- Galvanized steel decks
- Weathering steel structurals (option to paint)
- Bearing plates and pads
- Curb or rail system
- 14-foot wide modules
- Easy to ship and install
- Durable and maintenance-free
- Environmentally-responsible
Super•Cor® Corrugated Steel Structures
- The most internationally-accepted and widely-used profile on the market
- Superior strength of deep corrugations
- Lightweight construction
- Easy to ship and install
- Versatile, many shapes available
- Durable and maintenance-free
- Environmentally-responsible

Big R Railway Structures Brochure
2.4 MB PDF
Soil or Span
- Modular Steel Span Bridges
- Super•Cor® Corrugated Steel Structures
- Fast and easy installation
- Limited interruption to live rail or road traffic
- No need for bridge-specific contractors
- Able to span multiple rail lines
- Low-maintenance requirements
- Attractive and versatile design options
- Turn-key designed and engineered solutions
