Nov. 1 is target for War Eagle Bridge fix

Nick Hamilton of North Little Rock fishes Wednesday July 6, 2016 below the historic War Eagle Bridge. Hamilton said he's in the area on vacation. He fished in the War Eagle River before heading to Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area to ride his mountain bike.
Nick Hamilton of North Little Rock fishes Wednesday July 6, 2016 below the historic War Eagle Bridge. Hamilton said he's in the area on vacation. He fished in the War Eagle River before heading to Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area to ride his mountain bike.

BENTONVILLE -- Benton County officials are optimistic repairs to the historic War Eagle Bridge can begin about Nov. 1 and be completed before the 2017 spring craft fair in May.

County Judge Bob Clinard confirmed Friday the project design has been cleared by all of the state and federal agencies that have been reviewing it, including state and federal highway officials, state and federal environmental agencies and state historic preservation officials.

Jay Frasier, the county's public services administrator, said bid documents have been sent to the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department and are being reviewed, the final step before the county can seek bids on the project. Frasier said there is no time frame for the review. The county's construction plans hinge on getting the bid documents approved quickly, Clinard said.

"I really don't know much more," Clinard said. "It's still with the state and they have to sign off on the bid documents. We still have a very good chance of making the schedule."

Clinard wanted to have the project bid out by Aug. 15, have the bids reviewed and seek Quorum Court approval of the funding in September. While the bids will be delayed, it shouldn't upset the construction timetable if the county can send out the bids soon.

"We're down to the last week here," Clinard said. "We need to get things out by the end of the month. We've got a little bit of room, but not much. We'll have to advertise for two weeks once we get the documents approved. Then the bids will come in, we'll analyze the bids, then go to the Quorum Court with what we think is the best bid."

The normal process for sending a project of this sort to the Quorum Court would require meetings of the Transportation Committee and the Finance Committee where the project and funding would be discussed. A Transportation Committee meeting is set for Sept. 6, but Pat Adams, committee chairman, said the meeting could be canceled if the bids aren't ready.

The Finance Committee was set to discuss the project Sept. 8, but Tom Allen, chairman of that committee, said he could see the project being allowed to skip the preliminary meetings and go to the Committee of the Whole meeting on Sept. 13 or the Quorum Court meeting on Sept. 22.

"Absolutely, I'd send it on to the Quorum Court," Allen said. "We've talked about this at length. There's been lots of discussion about it, and I have no problem having it go to the Committee of the Whole or to the Quorum Court. We don't want to let the committee structure hold up something this important."

Barry Moehring, justice of the peace, agrees the bridge repair work could bypass the normal committee hearing process as long as the justices of the peace are kept apprised of the anticipated costs before being asked to approve the funding.

"I think the most important thing we want is to understand what the cost is going to be," Moehring said. "I understand there are three different levels of repairs and what hasn't been settled yet is the actual costs of those repairs."

Moehring said the bridge project has been supported by the Quorum Court, and he wants to see it proceed as soon as possible if the bids are within reason.

"What I want us to avoid is a surprise or a 'gotcha' at the end of this," Moehring said.

Benton County spent about $640,000 to repair the bridge in 2010, but state inspectors identified critical deficiencies in the structure in 2013. The county reduced the posted weight limit on the bridge to 3 tons while considering how to proceed. The county hired Great River Engineering of Springfield. Mo., to inspect the bridge and identify problems, then do design work and develop a scope of work for restoring the bridge. The firm has developed a three-tiered approach, with each additional step providing additional repairs that should extend the life of the bridge. The work has been estimated to cost about $700,000 for the first level, increase to about $870,000 for the second level and about $1 million for the full scope of work.

Area residents were unanimous in their support for repairing the bridge at a public forum held by the county in 2015.

Jenny Harmon, who lives in the area, said she's optimistic about the prospects for saving the bridge. Harmon said keeping to the county's proposed schedule would also be helpful.

"If indeed they can start Nov. 1 and finish before the spring War Eagle fair the people in the area would be delighted," Harmon said. "I know a lot depends on the weather, as it does for any construction, but that sounds like a good plan."

Harmon said she is satisfied with the way the county has handled the issue so far.

"It's been a process," she said. "I am hopeful that it will be an appropriate historical preservation project. I think it will be an asset to the county for years to come."

Metro on 08/29/2016

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