Old Rock Island bridge will be re-dedicated

The long-awaited completion of the renovation of the Junction Railroad Bridge converting it to a pedestrian and bicycle bridge will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, says Billie Ann Myers, chair of the Pulaski County Facilities Board responsible for the construction project.

The bridge links riverfront parks on both sides of the Arkansas River.

The completion and opening celebration will be held in the middle of the bridge at 10:30 am. Saturday, May 17 Visitors can enter the bridge at 10 a.m.

Access to the bridge is by a walkway (handicap accessible) directly behind the River Market pavilion on the Little Rock side and from Washington Street near Alltel Arena on the North Little Rock side.

A ceremonial "Tying Our Cities Together" will be accomplished with two 900-foot lengths of ribbon reaching from each end of the bridge. Local school groups will bring the ribbon together at the center of the bridge for a symbolic tying of the cities.

Pulaski County Judge F. G. "Buddy" Villines, Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola, North Little Rock Mayor Pat Hays, former Little Rock Mayor Jim Dailey and others will participate in the event.

Other participants will include representatives from Arkansas' congressional delegations, officials from Pulaski County and cities in Central Arkansas, and the project's funding partners.

In addition, key partners in the event will be on hand, including federal and state highway organizations, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, May Construction Co. and McClelland Engineers.

The Junction Bridge was constructed in 1884 as the primary railroad bridge connecting the northern and southern railway lines. In 1985, the then-owners of the bridge, Union Pacific closed the bridge to rail traffic and in 1999 ceded the bridge to the City of Little Rock.

Through an inter-local agreement the bridge was leased for 99 years to the Pulaski County Bridges Facilities Board for the purpose of developing the pedestrian/ bicycle bridge.

After the planning for the conversion of the bridge into a pedestrian and bicycle venue for public use, construction was begun in 2007. The total project cost with funding provided by local, state and federal transportation funds is $5,800,000.

The bridge is believed to be the only "lift span" bridge that has been converted to a pedestrian/bicycle bridge in the United States.

The "lift span" is locked into place in a raised position to allow for uninterrupted barge traffic on the river.

Visitors to the bridge may transverse the entire length of the structure by riding elevators up to and down from the 360 foot (length) lift span. The overall length of the bridge is 1,800 feet.

For the comfort of the visitors to the bridge, there are benches and other amenities. Areas which have been modernized on the structure are painted blue. The original paint is being left on the bridge to signify its age.

The bridge will be lighted at night by special "uplighting" on the beams.

McClelland Engineers was the project engineering firm, and May Construction was the general contractor. Both are headquartered in Little Rock.

Eighty percent of the funding for the renovation of the Junction Bridge was provided by grants from the federal transportation budget through the state Highway and Transportation Department.

The remaining 20 percent match was provided by road and bridge funds of the Cities of Little Rock and North Little Rock as well as Pulaski County.

The Junction Bridge will be open to the public during Riverfest.

At a later date the south end will be closed for the excavation of Little Rock's namesake, La Petite Roche, which will open up vistas.