170 replies to this topic

[CentralArkansas]

Wasn't there plans to turn a pedestrian bridge connecting LR/NLR into a landmark with a tower?

What happened to that?

[johnnydr87]

I'm afraid the official plans for the bridge are not as awsome as once thought.

Here's some pics of a conceptual drawing (by the bridge) of the bridge in the future from trainweather.com

[CentralArkansas]

johnnydr87, on Oct 19 2005, 09:33 AM, said:

I'm afraid the official plans for the bridge are not as awsome as once thought.

Here's some pics of a conceptual drawing (by the bridge) of the bridge in the future from trainweather.com

That's incredibly dumb looking.

They should sell it to the private sector: I'm sure they'd have an impressive development for us.

[Arkansawyer]

CentralArkansas, on Oct 18 2005, 11:53 PM, said:

Wasn't there plans to turn a pedestrian bridge connecting LR/NLR into a landmark with a tower?

What happened to that?

That story that the Arkansas Times ran a few years ago was nothing more than a few people's visions of what they'd like the bridge to be. It had no groundings in feasibility.

I know that the city owns the bridge (or did the last time I knew), and plans to convert it into a pedestrian link to Little Rock and North Little Rock. Specifically, who is overseeing the project, how is it being funded, and what is the timetable?

Not having a tower doesn't disappoint me; I prefer towers on terra firma. However, the unattractiveness of the conceptual drawing is disappointing. It's just bizarre. I'd rather just put in a new bridge altogether, but that would change the whole economic picture.

I'll reserve full judgment until something finally happens. I'm confident that those in charge will make it a nice project for both downtowns.

[skirby]

I think they should forget the bridge as a pedestrian link over the river. If you want to walk you can use the Main St. and Broadway bridges. I would like to see the following for the bridge.
Remove the lift span and build a viewing platform at the ground level side of the Little Rock lift tower.
On the NLR side replace the southern most span and replace it with a large pedestrian deck. This would make the NLR side a huge pier type structure over part of the river.
Use the two lift towers as light beacons or lease out their tops for advertising.
Turn the underside of the bridge into a water feature. Pump the water from the river and let it become a waterfall from the bottom of the bridge.
On the NLR enterance develop a fountain park.
This would provide something different for the riverfront and the view from the deck would be great.

[Mith242]

skirby, on Oct 20 2005, 09:34 AM, said:

I think they should forget the bridge as a pedestrian link over the river. If you want to walk you can use the Main St. and Broadway bridges. I would like to see the following for the bridge.
Remove the lift span and build a viewing platform at the ground level side of the Little Rock lift tower.
On the NLR side replace the southern most span and replace it with a large pedestrian deck. This would make the NLR side a huge pier type structure over part of the river.
Use the two lift towers as light beacons or lease out their tops for advertising.
Turn the underside of the bridge into a water feature. Pump the water from the river and let it become a waterfall from the bottom of the bridge.
On the NLR enterance develop a fountain park.
This would provide something different for the riverfront and the view from the deck would be great.

I don't know what the other bridge looks like, but the idea you had sounds interesting.  It would seem that the area around the river is a good place to do some developing.

[Aporkalypse]

skirby, on Oct 20 2005, 09:34 AM, said:

I think they should forget the bridge as a pedestrian link over the river. If you want to walk you can use the Main St. and Broadway bridges. I would like to see the following for the bridge.
Remove the lift span and build a viewing platform at the ground level side of the Little Rock lift tower.
On the NLR side replace the southern most span and replace it with a large pedestrian deck. This would make the NLR side a huge pier type structure over part of the river.
Use the two lift towers as light beacons or lease out their tops for advertising.
Turn the underside of the bridge into a water feature. Pump the water from the river and let it become a waterfall from the bottom of the bridge.
On the NLR enterance develop a fountain park.
This would provide something different for the riverfront and the view from the deck would be great.

These ideas are great.

I just want them to light up multiple bridges and give them a little more character.  A multicolored scheme like the causeway to the port in Miami would be nice but some simple lights like the river bridge in Memphis would be an improvement.  The bridges are too drab and plain at night.

[Arkansawyer]

skirby, on Oct 20 2005, 09:34 AM, said:

I think they should forget the bridge as a pedestrian link over the river. If you want to walk you can use the Main St. and Broadway bridges. I would like to see the following for the bridge.
Remove the lift span and build a viewing platform at the ground level side of the Little Rock lift tower.
On the NLR side replace the southern most span and replace it with a large pedestrian deck. This would make the NLR side a huge pier type structure over part of the river.
Use the two lift towers as light beacons or lease out their tops for advertising.
Turn the underside of the bridge into a water feature. Pump the water from the river and let it become a waterfall from the bottom of the bridge.
On the NLR enterance develop a fountain park.
This would provide something different for the riverfront and the view from the deck would be great.

With the Rock Island Bridge also being converted for pedestrian use, the Junction Bridge project would give Little Rock two such bridges very close to each other. I would prefer that the city focus on the aesthetics of the useful bridges we do have; in other words, make them more of a symbol of Little Rock. I agree that the areas at the base of the Junction Bridge need to be developed.

[skirby]

Funding for the rehab of the Rock Island Bridge near the Clinton Library is almost complete according to  Skip Rutherford. They are still working on the design mainly for the NLR side. As for the Junction Bridge there is a meeting Feb. 2nd at the Oyster Bar. From the Bicycle Advocacy of Central Arkansas website:  

PLANS FOR JUNCTION BRIDGE TO BE PRESENTED AT FEBRUARY 2, 2006 MEETING

George Wittenberg, AIA, coordinator of Urban Projects and Design for the UALR School of UALR Urban Studies and Design Program, will speak about the Junction Bridge. This program will be both informative and exciting as George is actively involved in the design of the bridge. Plan on attending the meeting at 7:00 p.m. at the Oyster Bar.

[Mith242]

Great to hear.  It would be really nice for me just to park in one area and be able to walk over to North Little Rock too and take pics.  A pedestrian bridge over the Arkansas River could also help lead to the more types of development I'd like to see in that area.

[skirby]

Junction Bridge update: Plans are to be completed this summer with bids at end of summer; construction will take about 9 months. They hope to have it finished by Riverfest 2007. If additional funds are raised they will add lighting to the bridge. Plans include a fountain on the LR side.

Edited by skirby, 20 February 2006 - 08:58 PM.

[Mith242]

skirby, on Feb 20 2006, 08:57 PM, said:

Junction Bridge update: Plans are to be completed this summer with bids at end of summer; construction will take about 9 months. They hope to have it finished by Riverfest 2007. If additional funds are raised they will add lighting to the bridge. Plans include a fountain on the LR side.

Cool, thanks for the update skirby.

[skirby]

There is a lot of work being done in Riverfront Park but none has started on the Junction Bridge yet. I'm looking forward to being able to walk across the bridge. There should be some great views from the bridge. I read that it will be able to hold 2500 people at one time.

The black object on the lower left of the bridge across the river is the sub.

Edited by skirby, 30 April 2006 - 08:54 AM.

[Mith242]

Cool thanks for the update and pic skirby.  I also look forward to being able to use the bridge on future trips in the area.

[turboturtle]

from http://www.healthyar...ENG/Pulaski.htm

Received: 8/22/2006 - JUNCTION BRIDGE PEDESTRIAN RIVER CROSSING CONVERSION WATER LINE IMPROVEMENTS LITTLE ROCK PULASKI COUNTY MCCLELLAND CONSULTING ENGINEERS 2 SETS PLANS $200 FEE PD

[Aporkalypse]

turboturtle, on Sep 1 2006, 11:41 AM, said:

from http://www.healthyar...ENG/Pulaski.htm

Received: 8/22/2006 - JUNCTION BRIDGE PEDESTRIAN RIVER CROSSING CONVERSION WATER LINE IMPROVEMENTS LITTLE ROCK PULASKI COUNTY MCCLELLAND CONSULTING ENGINEERS 2 SETS PLANS $200 FEE PD

Anyone seen a more recent design?


And when in the world in the Clinton Foundation going to get to work on the Rock Island Bridge?

[mcheiss]

Aporkalypse, on Sep 1 2006, 04:40 PM, said:

Anyone seen a more recent design?
And when in the world in the Clinton Foundation going to get to work on the Rock Island Bridge?

They need to restore that bridge. It would certainly add foot traffic over the river, and would help beautify the area.

[Aporkalypse]

mcheiss, on Sep 2 2006, 12:05 AM, said:

They need to restore that bridge. It would certainly add foot traffic over the river, and would help beautify the area.

They were supposed to start working on along with the Clinton Library.  The Clinton Foundation agreed to pay for it but apparently they were short on funds and put it off for a while but still intend to do it.  I haven't heard much lately but a year ago they were still getting their financial resources together.  That bridge has a lot of potential, I agree.

[Mith242]

Yeah I'm looking forward to either/both of these bridges to be done.  I'd certainly like to make use of them the next time I'm down taking pics.

[skirby]

Arkansas Business has an article about the Junction Bridge. It says most of the money for redevelpoment has been raised and it will go to bid in the coming weeks. Construction on the project should start later this fall. The area around the bridge will be a busy place with the Enclave on the North, the Nature Center, the Center for Arkansas History and Riverfront Park improvements on the Southside all under construction.