The Broadway Bridge is an

arch bridge An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side. A viaduct ...

that spans the

Arkansas River The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. It generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's source basin lies in the western United Stat ...

connecting the cities of

Little Rock, Arkansas ( The "Little Rock") , government_type = Council-manager , leader_title = Mayor , leader_name = Frank Scott Jr. , leader_party = D , leader_title2 = Council , leader_name2 ...

and

North Little Rock, Arkansas North Little Rock is a city in Pulaski County, Arkansas, across the Arkansas from Little Rock in the central part of the state. The population was 64,591 at the 2020 census. In 2019 the estimated population was 65,903, making it the seventh-mo ...

. It carries U.S. Route 70 (US 70). The current bridge opened to traffic in March 2017. The original bridge was demolished in 2016. It was also an arch bridge and it opened in 1923.

Current bridge

The need to replace or rehabilitate the original bridge was identified in 2010 as the structure was determined to be structurally deficient. Community desires were for a replacement bridge that included pedestrian/bicycle facilities, accommodations for a future streetcar line and an iconic design. In April 2011, the engineering firms Garver LLC and HNTB were selected to design a new bridge. The contractor i
Massman Construction Company
who won the contract with a bid of $98.4 million. The selected design includes two 450-foot spans incorporating basket handle arches. Each arch is estimated to weigh 2,000 tons. The new bridge was opened to the public on March 1, 2017.

Original bridge

The original bridge began construction in 1921 and opened on March 14, 1923. An estimated 50,000 people attended the grand opening events. The original five-span structure was 2,783 feet long and 40 feet wide and provided 24.3 feet of vertical clearance. The original structure was an open-spandrel, deck

made of concrete and built by the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company. The bridge was developed by the ''Broadway-Main Street Bridge District of Pulaski County'', a commission created by state legislature for the purpose of constructing bridges across the Arkansas River at Broadway and at Main Street. In 1974, two spans were removed and replaced with a single through arch span to achieve the required opening for the

McClellan–Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System The McClellan–Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS) is part of the United States inland waterway system originating at the Tulsa Port of Catoosa and running southeast through Oklahoma and Arkansas to the Mississippi River. The total ...

. The bridge closed on September 28, 2016 for demolition of the truss span and construction of the replacement. The 1974 steel arch span was demolished on October 11, 2016. After explosives were detonated, the span remained standing until it was pulled down by tugboats five hours later. Two of three concrete arches from the original portion of the bridge were demolished on October 15, 2016, while the third arch remained standing.

References

External links

Official Project Page for Replacement Bridge

Broadway Bridge
at Bridgehunter.com * {{clear Bridges completed in 1923 Road bridges in Arkansas Bridges of the United States Numbered Highway System U.S. Route 70 Bridges over the Arkansas River Concrete bridges in the United States Open-spandrel deck arch bridges in the United States Through arch bridges in the United States 1923 establishments in Arkansas Buildings and structures in North Little Rock, Arkansas Buildings and structures in Little Rock, Arkansas Transportation in Little Rock, Arkansas Bridges completed in 2017 2016 disestablishments in Arkansas Demolished buildings and structures in Arkansas Demolished bridges in the United States 2017 establishments in Arkansas Transportation in Pulaski County, Arkansas

Current bridge

Original bridge

See also

References

External links