Rich Road bridge construction begins

By DON WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

After more than three years of closure, construction is finally underway on the notorious Rich Road Bridge. The bridge, which was shut down in 2021, is now being rebuilt with a projected completion date of April 2025.

Residents who have long awaited action will notice contract crews at work, signaling the start of the long-delayed project. The bridge was deemed unsafe after inspections revealed serious structural failures.

“Structural members are in failure mode,” said then City Engineer Amanda Hicks back in June 2022, explaining the necessity of the bridge’s closure. “Last winter, the head walls at both abutment ends were scoured by high waters and were repaired. What is failing now is the superstructure pilings, loading arms, and caps that suspend the concrete deck. The bridge is not suitable for any traffic in its current state.”

The Rich Road Bridge was initially closed on November 24, 2021, when a routine inspection uncovered that its wooden supports were completely detached from the base. Subsequent inspections were scheduled by the Arkansas Department of Transportation, which confirmed that the 50-year-old bridge had far exceeded the lifespan of its original construction materials, which were only expected to last 30 years.

With the long-awaited project finally moving forward, residents are hopeful that attention will soon turn toward the Redding and Lehr bridges, which have also been the subject of safety concerns. Many locals feel that these vital crossings are overdue for repair, just as the Rich Road Bridge was.

Photo submitted

After more than three years construction is set to be completed in April

A sight for sore eyes: After more than three years, countless delays and a few rounds of the blame game, residents are ecstatic to see construction finally begin on the, now infamous, Rich Rd bridge.