By: Tammy Curtis, Managing Editor
Last Tuesday, the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT) closed a bridge last Tuesday, Nov. 22 in the area just before noon. Detours were set up and being utilized for traffic.
The bridge was closed due to structural issues discovered during an inspection by ArDOT.
It is not the new bridge, but is located on Highway 56 between Myron and Franklin in Izard County.
There is no passage as barriers of both fence and barrels and gravel piles are on both ends of the bridge. Detour routes and updates have been posted at idrivearkansas.com. The detour includes several routes including one cutting through Horseshoe Bend.
Detours include: From the intersection of Hwy. 56 and Hwy. 167 continue north 1.75 miles to the intersection Hwy. 167 and Hwy. 62/412. Then turn north onto Hwy. 62/412 and continue 9.5 miles to the intersection of Hwy. 62/412 and Hwy. 289 South. From there continue south on Hwy. 289 to the intersection of Hwy. 289 and Hwy. 56 in Franklin.
ARDOT’s Bridge Division Head, Rick Ellis was not available at press time for a comment on the projected closure time or the severity or possible cause of the damage.
On Sunday, Nov. 27, an ArDOT employee who was at the bridge said he has been required by the state to visually check the barriers twice daily to ensure they are still in place and that no one has crossed the bridge.
We will continue to provide updates on this closure both on our social media and website as they become available.