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West Memphis council approves emergency repairs to Ingram Bridge
Summary
The council approved Ordinance 2704 to waive competitive bidding and authorize emergency repairs to Ingram Bridge, replacing five panels with parts from a recent Rich Road repair; staff said work should take a few weeks and the full replacement is planned in next year’s budget.
The West Memphis City Council approved an emergency ordinance to repair the Ingram Boulevard bridge, citing an urgent need to replace damaged panels and reduce safety risks.
The ordinance, passed on third and final reading and assigned number 2704, waives competitive bidding so crews can replace five damaged panels immediately. City staff said the materials being used were salvaged from a recent repair at Rich Road Bridge and that the short-term work would take "a few weeks" to complete. Council members and staff said a full bridge replacement is being considered for next year’s budget to avoid repeated piecemeal fixes.
The council’s discussion centered on scope and cost: staff explained the panel replacement is intended to stabilize the structure and buy time until a comprehensive replacement can be funded, and they noted that performing the temporary fix now is an emergency response to avoid lane closures or further damage. One council member asked whether the city or state would shoulder future costs; staff confirmed the Ingram Bridge is the city’s responsibility.
The ordinance cleared all readings and was approved. The council assigned Ordinance No. 2704 to the measure; staff said they expect the immediate repair work to take a few weeks, with a broader replacement proposal to be considered in next year’s budget cycle.
The council moved next to other agenda items following the vote.
