LITTLE ROCK — THE STATE’S hard-pressed highway department has relented and agreed that the next Broadway Bridge needs a better access ramp south to LaHarpe Boulevard in Little Rock. And extra turn lanes on the North Little Rock side of the bridge.
That’s a step up from earlier plans, but only a small one compared to what a real vision of the bridge’s future, and the twin cities’ future, demands. And that’s a landmark, a structure that would be of both great use and visionary beauty. It would be a bridge for the next century, not just to meet present needs. Why invest so many millions just to get another utilitarian bridge across the Arkansas that might do for now?
As long as the taxpayers are replacing the century-old bridge, why not make progress instead of settling for the ordinary? The generation that built the now old Broadway Bridge was far-sighted; ours needs to be, too. A lot more far-sighted than the department’s present plans entail. Not because of any lack of foresight but a lack of money. The department has to operate within its budgetary constraints, and should. It owes that much to the taxpayers.
The long-range planning staff at Metroplan would like to add two extra lanes to connect the twin cities plus a traffic circle on the north side of the bridge to ease the congestion that’s bound to occur there. Planning for two more lanes would also give both cities time to marshal their resources for a great new bridge, not just a replacement.
To quote Daniel Burnham, the architect and, more important, the planner who made a town named Chicago the City Beautiful at the turn of another century: “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood . . . Make big plans, aim high in hope and work.’’
No one would pretend that the current plans just to replace the Broadway Bridge represent Daniel Burnham’s kind of spirit and vision. Even if the latest version of the highway department’s plan includes a modest 16-foot-wide pedestrian-and-bicycle lane along the length of the bridge. Even that could be wider if it’s really to separate walkers and bikers from cars and trucks.
“The trouble,” to quote Tom Schueck of the state’s highway commission, “is, of course, money.” Or rather not enough of it. Not now.
Sharon Priest, who’s running the Downtown Partnership in Little Rock these days, asked the $64-million (and more) question: “Is there enough interest to get out and work and raise the money to do it?” And enough vision, imagination, financial planning, and, maybe most of all, leadership.
The case for a sunsetted, countywide bond issue to build a real bridge to the future becomes stronger with every less than satisfying design produced by the state’s planners.
Who will put that bond issue together—and raise the private funds to augment it if necessary? To paraphrase a famous old slogan, Who will build Central Arkansas if her own people won’t? All its citizens need to. For if we build it, they will come, and be awestruck. Let’s show the country what the Little Rocks and Arkansas can do.
cc: Mayors Patrick Henry Hays and Mark Stodola of North Little Rock and south Little Rock, County Judge Buddy Villines of Pulaski County and all concerned citizens.
Editorial, Pages 14 on 10/03/2011