FAYETTEVILLE -- A historic bridge in southern Washington County is up for grabs to any local government or other group that wants it.
Washington County and the state Highway and Transportation Department will replace the 90-year-old Woolsey Bridge, which spans the West Fork of the White River just south of the town of West Fork. The bridge is part of the National Register of Historic Places and has been closed since January because of safety concerns.
Because of its place on the register, the Highway Department must offer to donate the 200-foot structure to an organization willing to preserve and take responsibility for it, according to a letter dated Aug. 13. The bridge is one of five of its kind in the state, according to the letter. Groups have 45 days to tell the department they're interested.
The bridge isn't considered safe for vehicles, but such bridges in the past have been used as pedestrian walkways in public parks and fishing areas, said Diana Wilks, section head of cultural resources at the highway department.
She wasn't aware of any groups that have shown interest, she said Tuesday.
"These bridges are a piece of our history, and if they can be moved and adopted to some use, then I think that's just great," she added. "If no one comes forward to take it within the allotted period, then it will be destroyed."
Woolsey is among several bridges slated for replacement in the county. Unlike with some of the other county bridges, the work is being done with help from the Highway Department. Survey work was done early this year, and the new bridge is being designed, said Shawn Shrum, the county's assistant road superintendent.
The Highway Department will reimburse costs of preserving and moving the structure up to what demolition would have cost, according to the letter. Wilks said she didn't know that value, and a request for comment from a department spokesman Wednesday wasn't returned.
Bob Scoggin, a program director with the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, said the bridge was made in the twilight of an age when private companies designed and built unique spans.
"They were prolific in the early 20th century," Scoggin said of the companies, adding since then governments have taken charge of, and standardized, the bridge-building business. "They were still trying to figure out what worked best."
Scoggin said the preservation program doesn't have the resources to take the bridge, echoing his counterparts at the Washington County Historical Society.
NW News on 08/20/2015