Arkansas authorities say a bridge strike on the Ouachita River Bridge in Arkadelphia will send motorists on a 31-mile detour until repairs can be made.
The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department is still assessing the damage caused after a county dump truck struck several horizontal and vertical support beams on the bridge’s superstructure. The incident occurred shortly after 7 a.m. on Tuesday.
The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department is still assessing the damage caused after a county dump truck struck several horizontal and vertical support beams on the bridge’s superstructure. The incident occurred shortly after 7 a.m. on Tuesday.
AHTD says the bridge will remain closed to traffic until further notice. Initially, plans were being made to permit emergency services vehicles to cross. However, after the AHTD bridge division inspected the bridge, it was determined that all traffic should be kept off the bridge.
A detour route has been established that takes eastbound drivers on Highway 51 north on State Highway 67 to Highway 51 outside of Donaldson, and then south via Highway 128.
A spokesman for the Arkansas State Police could not provide details about the crash, citing the ongoing investigation. No citations had been issued as of Tuesday afternoon.
The bridge carries State Highway 51 over the Ouachita River east of Arkadelphia. Built in 1960, the bridge is a Pratt Thru-Truss structure that is 503 feet long and 24 feet wide. AHTD officials say the bridge carries an average of 3,100 vehicles per day. The bridge is on a 12-month inspection cycle and just completed its most recent inspection on June 27.
A replacement structure is under construction on the downstream side of the bridge. Work began in April 2015 on a $14.9 million project, which is expected to be completed next summer.
By Greg Grisolano, Land Line associate editor
http://www.landlinemag.com
By Greg Grisolano, Land Line associate editor
http://www.landlinemag.com
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