ARDOT shares info on Hwy 56 bridge project
Last Thursday evening, a number of representatives from the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) were on hand at Calico Rock City Hall to share information on the planned replacement of the Hwy 56 bridge over Calico Creek.
Contrary to prior reporting derived from conversations held during city council meetings, the project will consist of the construction of a new bridge immediately adjacent to the existing structure, similar to the work currently underway on the Hwy 56 bridge crossing Piney Creek east of Calico Rock. Traffic will continue on the old bridge until the new bridge is completed at which time traffic will be rerouted and the old bridge demolished.
The relocation of the existing Walnut Street bridge over Calico Creek to the north end of Rand Park, and its replacement with a new bridge is a completely separate project for which the city is seeking grant money funding.
In addition to replacement of the Hwy 56 bridge, the state project will also include a reconfiguration of the intersection of Hwy 5 and Hwy 56 aimed at making the turn easier for large trucks and other vehicles. The installation of gutters, curbs and sidewalks is also part of the plan which will facilitate pedestrian crossing of the bridge.
The aerial view of the project shows the locations of the existing bridge, the new bridge immediately to the south, property that will be impacted (which in some cases will require ARDOT to obtain easements from property owners) and the extent to which the new sidewalks will extend.
In addition to answering questions and providing detailed aerial maps of various aspects of the project, the DOT is collecting input from the public via a short questionnaire which included such questions as, “Do you feel there is a need for the proposed bridge?”, “Does your home or property offer any limitations to the project, such as septic systems which need to be considered?”, and “Do you know of any historical sites, family cemeteries or archaeological sites in the project area?”.
Comments are being accepted through 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8 and may be mailed to ARDOT, Environmental Division, P.O. Box 2261, Little Rock, AR 72203 or via email at [email protected].
Interested parties are encouraged to visit the ARDOT website (www.ardot.gov/publicmeetings), scroll down to the public meeting held here in Calico Rock on April 24 and then click on that specific meeting. Once open, scroll down a bit further on the page and go thru the five steps which enable visitors to view an informative project overview video, review exhibits and an interactive map, and the opportunity to submit comments online with the same deadline referenced above.
No need to get too worked up yet about possible traffic slowdown during construction as this reporter learned that bids for the work will not be let until mid-2026, with construction tentatively scheduled to begin in early-2027.
Plans for the bridge can be found on the ARDOT website VPIPh03 Job 050447 CalicoCreekStrApprs EN 202504. The website includes an interactive map showing the plans for the bridge.
