The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) is recommending that three bridges located along Highway 187 north of Eureka Springs not be replaced at this time, according to Dan Flowers, Director of the AHTD.

            Bridge replacement projects had been proposed for the Table Rock Reservoir Bridge at Beaver (known as the Beaver Bridge), the Leatherwood Creek Bridge east of Beaver, and the Butler Creek Bridge west of Beaver, all on Highway 187.

An Environmental Assessment was recently completed for the Beaver Bridge project. The assessment evaluated three possible locations for a new bridge to serve as an alternative to the picturesque, single-lane wooden deck suspension bridge in the town of Beaver .

“After a thorough evaluation of the social, environmental, and economic impacts of this project, we believe the best course of action at this time is to continue to maintain the existing Beaver Bridge and not build a new structure nearby,” Flowers said. “We will continue to maintain the existing bridge just as we have done since its construction in 1949.”

            The AHTD will also no longer pursue plans for new bridges at the Leatherwood and Butler Creek locations at this time. The single-lane bridge at Leatherwood Creek is in need of some structural work, according to Flowers. Proposed plans called for the construction of a new two-lane bridge nearby, but the new bridge and roadway approaches would have impacted the historic Elk Ranch property adjacent to the highway. The AHTD now plans to use its own maintenance personnel to repair the existing structure rather than build a new one at this time.

The existing bridge at Butler Creek is structurally sound, but it is located in a sharp curve. Construction of a new bridge near the existing structure would have improved the alignment of the bridge and its roadway approaches.

            A public meeting will be held Tuesday, April 4^th at 6:00 p.m. at the Beaver Fire Department and Community Building , 900 Main Street , in Beaver.  The Table Rock Structure and Approaches Environmental Assessment has been approved by the Federal Highway Administration for public dissemination.  A formal presentation of the assessment will be made by AHTD representatives at 6:00 p.m. to present the document’s findings and address questions from the public regarding all three bridges.  Displays will also be available for public viewing. 

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