Federal funding could help repair some bridges in Clark County

By JOEL PHELPS | arkadelphian.com

If it’s not too expensive, the first of about 10 bridges on county-maintained roads is set to be replaced thanks to a round of matching federal funding.

The Clark County Quorum Court on Monday gave its unanimous approval to a resolution expressing its willingness to use federal aid money to replace a bridge spanning South Fork Terre Noire Creek on McMillan Road.

The current structure is a rail car, county Judge Troy Tucker said, explaining that it’s structurally sound but is first on a list of bridges the funding is said to fix over time. “The structure is not in any jeopardy — if it was they would already be notifying us,” Tucker said.

The resolution allows the county to request the Arkansas Department of Transportation to make the funding available. The federal aid funds will cover 90% of the costs for a feasibility study conducted by an ARDOT consultant. The county would be responsible for fronting 10% of the project. No one knows yet what that figure is, Tucker said.

The ARDOT feasibility study will include preliminary engineering (for up to 30% of the plans) and development of a planning-level cost estimate. 

“If we find out after the study that our 10% is more than we’re willing to pay, we will back out and that funding will be made available to another county,” Tucker told arkadelphian.com after the meeting.

Should the county be able to match the federal funding, it will have the option to request additional funding for other bridge projects — “not immediately, but over time,” Tucker said. Asked what other bridges are in queue for replacement, the judge was unsure of the complete list but said that, in addition to bridges throughout the county, there are others on McMillan Road that are due for replacement. “ARDOT identified 10 or 11 bridges that would be eligible to replace if the money doesn’t run out,” he said.