Shown above is an artist's rendering depicting the appearance of the Pulaski County Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge Murray Lock and Dam. Click here for a larger image

Project Status

Comprising 3,463 linear feet of bridge elevated 65 feet above the navigation channel, and 653 feet of walled embankments, the bridge over Murray Lock and Dam will be the second longest Pedestrian / Bicycle bridge in the United States. It will be the longest bridge specifically constructed as a Pedestrian / Bicycle bridge. Special marine-based construction techniques will be required for the construction of the bridge.

The bridge will have a 14-foot wide deck, capable of handling pedestrian and bicycle traffic. It will be constructed with weathering steel girders to minimize the requirements for future maintenance. The bridge will be built with gentle slopes to assure compliance with Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards. The bridge is capable of holding two 36” future utility pipelines. The contractor is Jensen Construction of Sand Springs, Oklahoma.

The bridge will unite about 17 miles of scenic riverside trails in the cities
of Little Rock and North Little Rock, and may in the future connect with 7,000 acres of various city, county, state and federal park land.

The aerial photograph shows the approximate path of the bridge over Murray Lock and Dam. The bridge would cross the river near the Murray Hydroelectric power plant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project Schedule

10/07/04 - Notice to proceed on construction issues.  Construction will be complete late summer of 2006.

4/15/04 - Corps issues notice in FedBizOps to inform prospective contractors of the upcoming advertisement for bids.

5/25/04 - Corps issues solicitation for competitive proposals from prospective contractors.

6/08/04 - Presolicitation Conference.

6/29/04 - Competitive proposals due.

8/09/04 - Contract award date.

9/09/04 - Contractor notice to proceed.

Late fall 2006 - Bridge completion. The construction contract is on schedule, however the completion date could be impacted by water fluctuations. Once past the season such events occur, by late Spring 06, a more accurate projection can be made.

The bridge opening date is currently scheduled for September 30, 2006.
  

Project History

2005 Winter - Award of construction contract made and construction is underway.

2004 Winter – Preparation of construction plans and specifications are nearing completion.

2003 Summer – The Corps issued a contract to Cromwell-Garver joint venture for preparation of construction plans and specifications.

2002 December – Garver Engineers completed a Design Report, which determined: that the existing dam structure could support a bridge; the required length of bridge; evaluated design alternatives; and, developed cost estimates for construction of the bridge and embankment structures.

2001 November 7 - Awarded delivery order for Design Report.

2000 November 16 – Judge Villines and General Melcher of the Corps Southwestern Division signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the Corps to design and construct a pedestrian/bicycle bridge over Murray Lock and Dam.

 

POC: Pagemaster

Updated/Reviewed: 29 Jan 2008