Little Rock Begins Markham Bridge Demolition; West Markham Stays Closed

Demolition work on Little Rock’s damaged Markham Street pedestrian bridge is beginning this week, keeping a section of West Markham Street closed while crews remove the structure.

The city said preliminary work began during the week of July 27, with demolition scheduled to begin Tuesday, July 28. The bridge was damaged when a large dump truck struck it near West Markham and Dennison streets.

West Markham remains closed to through traffic

West Markham Street has been closed to through traffic since July 13. The affected segment runs between Barton Street and Thayer Street, according to the City of Little Rock.

Drivers should avoid the closed section and follow the detours posted by the city while demolition proceeds. Little Rock has not announced a specific reopening date, but officials expect the street to reopen after the bridge is safely removed.

That means the traffic disruption may end before the larger pedestrian-access question is resolved. The city’s current notices do not announce a replacement bridge, a funded crossing project, a final design or a construction schedule.

Engineers found repair was not feasible

City officials said structural engineers determined that the bridge could not feasibly be repaired for public use after the truck strike. The demolition decision followed the engineering review, the city’s investigation into the crash and efforts to authorize a contractor to remove the structure.

The location makes the next steps important for people traveling near the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind, as well as residents, workers and others using nearby streets and sidewalks.

Little Rock’s Markham Street planning materials have identified pedestrian-safety concerns along the corridor, including narrow sidewalks and a history of crashes. Those materials provide background for the longer-term discussion, but they do not establish that a replacement project has been approved or funded.

What residents should watch next

For drivers and commuters, the immediate issue is the continued West Markham closure and the need to use the city’s detours until demolition is complete. People walking or traveling near the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind should watch for future updates about safe crossings and changing access around the work zone.

The next key developments will be the completion of demolition, the reopening of West Markham Street and any city announcement about replacement pedestrian access. The road may reopen once the damaged bridge is removed, but that will not necessarily restore the pedestrian connection that existed before the crash.

Sources

• City of Little Rock bridge demolition notice
• Arkansas Outside report on Markham bridge demolition