Broadway bridge project wins top honor

The project to replace the Broadway bridge drew the top honor at the American Council of Engineering Companies of Arkansas annual Engineering Excellence Awards Gala.

The bridge spanning the Arkansas River connecting downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock was named Grand Conceptor at the annual event, held Thursday at the Governor’s Mansion. The bridge also took first place in the structural systems category.

Garver, a multidiscipline engineering, planning, architectural and environmental services firm based in North Little Rock, provided design services for the project, which included approaching roadways, bridge lighting, and pedestrian and cycling paths.

“The new Broadway bridge is one of the most satisfying and rewarding projects that I have worked on during my career at Garver, considering the importance to the community,” said John Ruddell, the firm’s bridge design manager.

The $98.4 million contract to replace the Broadway bridge gave Massman Construction Co. of Kansas City 180 days to close the bridge to traffic, dismantle the old bridge and open the new one to traffic. Massman did it in 152 days.