Updated Broadway Bridge design released

LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Plans for the construction of a new bridge are on display. The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department is asking for feedback on those plans before coming up with a final design.

Four bridge types are being considered for the new construction. 24 thousand vehicles a day travel over the Broadway Bridge, which is cracking from nearly 100 years of use. The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department is showing renderings of what a new bridge could look like.

Randy Ort, spokesperson for the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department says all four concepts have different elements and architectural features that could be incorporated into any of the designs.

80 percent of the money to build the new bridge is coming from federal funds, so finding a balance between construction time, design, and cost is important.

Mike Smith works for the city of North Little Rock and says he hopes traffic control during construction will be taken into consideration.

Of the four design concepts, the quickest bridge to build would take 18 months to construct and the cheapest bridge to build would cost around $60 million.

Gip Robertson is retired from the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department and says he's worried about the environmental aspects of a new bridge obstructing the views downtown. "The cable stayed design I think is extremely offensive environmentally. The cost is way beyond that which is considered reasonable."

The public seems to prefer a bridge design that enhances the natural landscape and is cost efficient.

The next step is to take all the feedback received from the public and come up with a more detailed architectural plan to present this summer. Construction could begin as soon as 2013.