PHOTOS: Arkansas bridge closed indefinitely after accident, officials say

A Clark County road department truck collided with key components of the Ouachita River Bridge on Tuesday, June 28, 2016, forcing the indefinite closure of the Arkansas 51 structure in Arkadelphia.
A Clark County road department truck collided with key components of the Ouachita River Bridge on Tuesday, June 28, 2016, forcing the indefinite closure of the Arkansas 51 structure in Arkadelphia.

An accident Tuesday at a state highway bridge in Arkadelphia damaged the bridge’s structure, requiring the installation of temporary supports and indefinite rerouting of traffic, officials said.

Danny Straessle, spokesman for the state Highway and Transportation Department, said shortly before 2 p.m. that traffic remained closed at the Ouachita River Bridge on Arkansas 51 after a crash involving a truck about 7 a.m.

That accident damaged “key overhead structural elements” when the truck struck several horizontal and vertical beams, the department said in a news release.

Temporary supports will be installed until a permanent fix can be made on the bridge that carries an estimated 3,100 vehicles daily, according to the news release.

Motorists are being rerouted to U.S. 67 along Interstate 30 as well as portions of Arkansas 51 and Arkansas 128 east of the bridge, which had its last inspection Monday.

Officials said earlier that exceptions were being made for emergency services vehicles to use the bridge for travel but later closed the span to all vehicles.

It was not immediately clear if anyone was injured in the crash.

Check back with Arkansas Online for updates on this story and read Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

Upcoming Events