Little Rock to remove damaged Markham Street pedestrian bridge; staff seeks design bids for replacement

Mayor Scott opened the meeting noting limited voting capacity but allowed presentations and public hearings to proceed. Bob Materian, who provided the bridge update, said last Monday a dump truck struck the Markham Street pedestrian bridge and a structural engineer determined the span "is beyond repair." Materian told the board Weaver Bailey Contractors was identified as the most qualified and responsive bidder for removal and that Entergy is coordinating on overhead power-line safety.

Materian said the city released a letter of interest seeking statements of qualifications from engineering firms for a two-step design process, with statements due next Friday. "The first step will be to provide us alternatives with some design options and cost estimates," he said; once a preferred alternative is selected the same firm would complete detailed design and the city would bid construction.

Board members asked about interim crossing options. Director Webb asked what kind of alternatives would be considered; Materian said options could include replacing the existing bridge, creating an at-grade crossing if safe and ADA-accessible, or other solutions. He said traffic engineering is evaluating a temporary traffic signal and is preparing a sketch and an estimate.

Director Phillips asked about advance notice to residents ahead of demolition. Materian said, once a contract is signed, the city will hold a preconstruction meeting with Entergy, develop a clear timeline and communicate details through the city's communications team. The city attorney advised that because this is an emergency on a major arterial, staff can begin logistics and meetings now and later seek formal ratification when the full board can vote. The city attorney estimated demolition work could take roughly "2 to 3 days" to take down and cut up the structure and about another day to reopen the street.

What happens next: staff will pursue the Weaver Bailey removal contract logistics and solicit engineering qualifications for replacement design; the board scheduled a special-call meeting next Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. to ratify formal actions.

"We have released a letter of interest today to request statements of qualifications from engineering firms," Materian said. "Once the preferred alternative is selected, then we will have the same engineering firm do the design, and then we'll bid it and construct whatever has been selected."