The Arkansas Department of Transportation manages over 2,000 precast concrete channel beam bridges, making up more than 16% of the state’s total bridges. On a stretch of Highway 28 in Yell County, AR, five such bridges had deteriorated with age; leading to reduced load capacity and occasional closures. ARDOT’s Bridge Operations Division, using its in-house bridge-building crew, replaced the deteriorated channel beams, modified existing foundations, installed new beams, applied a polymer overlay, and reopened the bridges in a remarkably short timeframe. By handling the project internally, ARDOT reduced costs from $15 million to under $2 million – using those savings to fund additional projects. This efficient approach minimized highway closure time and quickly restored normal traffic flow – benefiting both local residents and the economy. The project’s reduced closure time, taxpayer savings, and improved safety brought significant advantages to the community. Residents and highway users now enjoy full use of the route without the concerns of aging infrastructure, while the cost savings enable further infrastructure improvements elsewhere in the state.
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