Little Rock moves ahead with demolition and reopening of damaged Markham Street pedestrian bridge

Little Rock authorized demolition of the pedestrian bridge over West Markham Street after city engineers found it had sustained extensive damage in a strike involving a large dump truck. The city later reported that West Markham Street reopened after the damaged structure was safely removed.

The response and subsequent reopening were listed in City of Little Rock municipal announcements dated July 23. The affected area is near Markham and Dennison streets.

Damage assessment led to demolition

City engineers assessed the bridge after the vehicle strike and determined that the damage was extensive. The city then authorized a contractor to proceed with demolition rather than leave the damaged pedestrian structure in place over the street.

Preliminary site work began before demolition, according to the city. The structure was later removed safely, allowing West Markham Street to reopen.

The announcements establish the sequence of the public-works response: an assessment of the bridge, authorization for contractor-led demolition, preliminary work and removal, followed by the reopening of the roadway.

What the reopening means

The reopening restored traffic access on the affected portion of West Markham Street after the bridge damage and removal operation disrupted the corridor. The city identified the location as near Markham and Dennison streets in Little Rock.

The municipal notices concern the roadway and the damaged bridge. They do not provide a construction date for the bridge, a replacement cost or a final decision on whether the pedestrian crossing will be rebuilt.

Details not established in available records

The city information does not show the exact date when the large dump truck struck the bridge. It also does not assign responsibility for the collision.

The Little Rock Police Department maintains daily significant-event reports and cautions that preliminary information can change during an investigation. The approved records do not include a police or court finding assigning fault or criminal liability in the bridge strike.

No future construction schedule or next step for a replacement pedestrian bridge was identified in the available city announcements. For now, the confirmed development is the removal of the damaged structure and the reopening of West Markham Street.