Little Rock city staff told the Board of Directors on July 29, 2025, that they will seek short-term financing of about $6.5 million to repair a damaged protection cell at the Clinton Bridge after a previous barge collision and subsequent inspections showed deeper repairs will be required. The board is scheduled to consider related measures at its August 5 meeting.

The request combines a $712,441 resolution that covers final design and related work and a separate ordinance for short-term borrowing of approximately $6.5 million to fund the immediate construction contract; staff said the lowest construction bid received was about $5.7 million. City attorneys and engineers said additional costs reflect deeper excavation to bedrock and permitting work that will be required for U.S. Coast Guard approval to place new protection cells in the river.

Why it matters: the U.S. Coast Guard and other federal reviewers have signaled the city must correct the protection cell or face enforcement action. City officials said the Coast Guard had warned of daily fines if the city did not move forward, and the city has an active lawsuit against the barge owner/operator, Marquette, filed in 2023. The immediate financing would allow the city to proceed with repairs while litigation over recovery continues.

City staff described a multi-step history of engineering and reporting on the protection cells. A 2021 Volcker report (provided to the city) estimated replacement costs in the millions; subsequent engineering work and contractor proposals have produced higher and more detailed figures. Officials told the board the $6.5 million figure includes construction, design, permitting and short-term contingencies. The construction bid of roughly $5.7 million covers physical work on the cell; the $712,441 resolution covers remaining design, right-of-way/permitting support and related legal or advisory work.

Board members pressed staff on inspections and long-term maintenance. Staff said Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) and the city's Department of Transportation perform periodic inspections; the Junction Bridge is maintained regionally with contributions from Little Rock, Pulaski County and North Little Rock, while the Clinton Bridge has been carried by the city. Directors asked staff to pursue a formal memorandum of understanding with ARDOT to ensure regular inspections of pedestrian/cyclist bridges and to clarify maintenance and funding responsibilities.

Officials said the city filed suit against Marquette in September 2023 after delays gathering documents and federal reports (including from the Coast Guard). Staff emphasized that portions of the work identified now (deeper excavation to bedrock) likely would have been required even absent the collision, but that the incident accelerated discovery of the condition and the need for immediate remediation.

Board members also questioned prior consultant selection and report utility. City staff said consultants were chosen from an existing pool of prequalified engineers under the city's professional services lists and that earlier reports provided limited scope at their fee levels. The board requested a clearer litigation and risk summary for upcoming meetings.

No formal vote on short-term financing occurred during the July 29 agenda meeting; staff said the measures will be on the board agenda for a formal vote on August 5.

Less critical background: board members discussed historic funding for bridge lighting and regional cost-sharing, noted the city does not carry insurance on the Clinton Bridge, and debated whether the city's asset accounting and maintenance-reserve practices should change for large pedestrian structures going forward.