West Fork leaders want to restore a nearly 100-year-old bridge and use it as a trail connection.
The Woolsey Bridge is being moved from about 2 miles south of West Fork to the city where it will eventually be restored.
"We're moving it to our city recycling center," Mayor Heith Caudle said. "Pieces of it are there now, so it's in the process of being moved."
The 300-foot, one-lane, camelback truss bridge was built in 1925 and stretched across the White River until it was recently retired by the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, Caudle said.
The bridge was on a side road connecting the Woolsey community to U.S. 71. It will be replaced by a new bridge, Caudle said.
The Woolsey Bridge, which is made of steel, hopefully, will have a second life as part of the city's future trail system, Caudle said.
"We're hoping to locate it near our Riverside Park," Caudle said. "There's a couple of specific locations that have not been decided upon yet, but in that Riverside Park area."
The bridge will serve along a bike and pedestrian path, Alderman Joe Toher said.
"It will help the community as far as foot traffic across the river and aesthetics," Toher said. "Plus, everyone likes old stuff."
The Highway Department has an undisclosed amount of money to help West Fork erect the bridge, but more money is needed, Caudle said.
"We're hoping to get some grants and private donations," he said.
It's unknown how much will be needed to repair the bridge, but former Mayor Charles Rossetti is working to procure money.
"Former Mayor Rossetti had a passion for getting the bridge into West Fork and into our trail system," Caudle said. "I've spoken to him and he's going to continue working on this project and getting grants."
Alderman Anita Lowry said she supports repairing the bridge, but only if it doesn't come at taxpayer expense.
"I don't think it's something that's going to happen overnight; it's going to take a little while," Lowry said. "I don't want to use any tax money or tax dollars to pay for that. I want it to come through grants."
Caudle said he would like to see the bridge someday be part of the Razorback Greenway, but the greenway has to connect from Fayetteville through both Washington County land and Greenland land before it can reach West Fork.
"We are developing an internal trail system that will include this bridge and hopefully sooner than later will connect to the Razorback Greenway," Caudle said.
NW News on 12/31/2016