The City of Little Rock has moved to demolish a pedestrian bridge that was struck by a truck on West Markham Street, after engineering assessments concluded the structure is not feasible to repair for public use.
Road remains closed while city solicits demolition bids
Little Rock officials closed West Markham Street between Barton Street and Thayer Street to motorists and pedestrians after the collision, which took place on Monday afternoon. Police say the driver left the scene and a hit-and-run investigation is ongoing.
Public Works Director Maneesh Krishnan told reporters the city is now seeking contractors to carry out a careful removal of the damaged span because the bridge crosses a public street. The work requires safeguarding people, nearby properties and overhead services while the span is taken down.
"The contractor will be responsible for securing the job site and to make sure that people don't get in the way of the work and it's done safely,"
Krishnan emphasised the complexity of the task: demolition crews must ensure no part of the structure falls onto the roadway or nearby structures and must protect overhead electric lines while securing the work zone against public access.
- West Markham Street is closed between Barton and Thayer Streets.
- The city is accepting demolition bids through Monday, July 20.
- Officials will set a removal timeline after reviewing submitted bids.
Service disruptions and next steps
The pedestrian bridge had served the surrounding neighbourhoods for decades, providing a crossing for residents and students travelling to the Arkansas School for the Deaf and the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Krishnan said traffic on West Markham Street could resume as soon as the span and associated appurtenances are removed.
| Issue | Detail |
|---|---|
| Road closure | West Markham St. closed between Barton and Thayer |
| Bids due | End of day, Monday, July 20 |
| Replacement status | City has not announced whether the bridge will be rebuilt |
City officials did not say whether the pedestrian bridge will be replaced after demolition. They expect to establish a clearer timeline for removal once bids are received and reviewed.
Although this incident occurred in Little Rock, the choice of street name — Markham — may catch the attention of readers in Markham, Ont., who follow municipal responses to infrastructure damage, public safety on crossings and how cities manage fast turnarounds on emergency closures.
The Little Rock Public Works Department advised members of the public to avoid the work area until the demolition contractor secures the site and removal is complete.
