The second of two spans that will become the new U.S. Highway 70 (Broadway) Bridge over the Arkansas River will be floated into place tomorrow, according to Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) officials.

At some point after 8:00 a.m., Massman Construction Co. will disembark from the North Little Rock river bank as a delicate choreography of barges and tow boats work to shuttle the arch upriver and into its final position. The river will be closed to all traffic in the downtown area beginning at 7:00 a.m. to reduce potential for disturbing the process, which is weather dependent.

Positioning of the second arch had been delayed due to uncertainties related to last week’s detonation of a footing that supported the old bridge. Initial reports indicated the footing did not fully detonate and break into manageable pieces underwater. Upon further investigation, it was determined the footing did detonate properly – however the remaining debris did not disperse as planned. Instead, the footing separated into large pieces that remained in place. Additional equipment was brought to the job site and was able to clear the debris pile to a depth that would allow placement of the second arch.

There will not be any viewing location restrictions outside of the work zone for this event.