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Little Rock board approves emergency sole-source contract to repair Clinton Presidential Pedestrian Park Bridge
Summary
Citing an Army Corps of Engineers letter and contractor availability, the Little Rock City Board approved an emergency sole-source contract not to exceed $5,725,000 to repair the Clinton Presidential Pedestrian Park Bridge amid ongoing litigation.
The Little Rock City Board of Directors on Nov. 18 approved an emergency sole-source contract not to exceed $5,725,000 to demolish and replace protective elements of the Clinton Presidential Pedestrian Park Bridge.
Director Phillips asked whether litigation connected to the bridge damage remains active and why the city must act immediately: "First off, I just wanna be clear that the litigation related to this is still ongoing. Right?" The city's attorney confirmed the litigation is ongoing and said the council faces two time-sensitive factors: a letter from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers urging prompt repairs, and the fact that a contractor experienced with a similar I-30 bridge repair has equipment nearby in Pine Bluff and can mobilize quickly.
"The litigation's ongoing," the city attorney said. "The two biggest reasons we need to do this now are that we've got a letter from the Corps of Engineers that has told us to go ahead and get this thing fixed ... and the company that fixed a protection cell for the I-30 Bridge ... is familiar with the ... area and it's got its equipment right now in Pine Bluff. So we can get it upriver pretty quickly and get this going very quickly."
Board members sought clarity on public access during construction. Director Phillips asked whether the pedestrian bridge would be closed or otherwise affected. The city attorney recommended the public-works department consider issuing warnings during periods of high raw-water flows but said he was not aware of a need to close the pedestrian bridge outright.
The ordinance that authorizes a sole-source agreement was advanced through reading and adopted with an emergency clause, enabling staff to move forward with procurement without a standard competitive-bid process. The board recorded the emergency-clause vote during the meeting.
The vote clears the way for city staff to enter the contract and begin work once administrative steps are complete. The agenda material lists the $5,725,000 figure as the not-to-exceed sole-source amount for demolition and replacement work on the pedestrian bridge.
Next steps: city staff will complete contracting and coordinate public-works messaging about potential impacts during high-water events.
