The Arkansas Highway Commission and Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department said Friday that they have accepted the $98.4 million bid from Massman Construction Co. of Kansas City, Missouri, to replace the Broadway Bridge over the Arkansas River between Little Rock and North Little Rock.
The AHTD said the Massman contract is the single largest contract ever awarded by the Highway Commission.
“We’re very pleased with the bids we received, particularly the bid from Massman,” AHTD Director Scott Bennett said. “We gave contractors 12 weeks instead of four to develop their bids hoping they would find innovative ways to keep both the cost and time down. We’re excited to begin this journey with Massman.”
Massman’s bid the least expensive of four the AHTD received. It was also the shortest in terms of time for the bridge to be out of service. Original estimates were that the bridge could be out of service for up to two years. The Massman bid says the bridge will be closed for six months.
“From the beginning, the length of time for the construction has been a major point of concern,” Bennett said. “While the bridge is out, 24,000 vehicles per day must find another way to cross the river. A six-month closure will certainly be less burdensome than two years.”
The AHTD has yet to be determine when the current bridge will be taken out of service.
“In the near future, we’ll begin working out the details with the contractor to determine the detailed sequence of construction,” Bennett said. “Once we have a firm timeline for when the current bridge will be closed, we will provide as much notice and information as we can.”
The AHTD received three other bids:
- Edward Kraemer & Sons Inc. of Plain, Wisconsin: $114.2 million
- PCL Civil Constructors Inc. of Tampa, Florida: $114.4 million
- Brasfield & Gorrie LLC of Birmingham, Alabama: $115.4 million
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