ENVIRONMENT FEATURE
A National Treasure Runs Under It:
Bridge Construction over the Buffalo BY DAVID NILLES
M
OST ARKANSANS
“Pennsylvania through truss” structure
WOULD AGREE THAT
that was built in 1931 by the Virginia
and Least Overall Harm Section 4(f)
THE BUFFALO RIVER
Bridge & Iron Company. It stretches 374
Evaluation we prepared for the project
IS ONE OF ARKANSAS’ SPECIAL
feet as it crosses over the Buffalo and
identified a number of measures that
TREASURES. Making its way
carries 2,400 vehicles a day. It was named
had to be considered,” stated Mary
through the Ozark National Forest
to the National Register of Historic Places
Pearson, an Environmental Impact
of northwest Arkansas, it is a place
in 1990.
Specialist for ArDOT.
of untouched beauty that attracts
The unique bridge has served its
“The Environmental Assessment
Section 4(f) is part of the Department
paddlers, campers and hikers from
purpose well over the past 89 years, but
of Transportation Act of 1966 that
across the country.
time and traffic have taken their toll on
was passed to protect public parks,
the structure.
recreation areas, wildlife/waterfowl
Because the river is loved by so many, it was designated the country’s
“The old bridge is in very poor condition
refuges and important historic sites
first National River in 1972. This
and is too narrow for today’s traffic,”
from being harmed by transportation
special status protects the river from
District Nine Engineer Steve Lawrence
projects.
commercial or residential development
explained.
or any other destructive operations. When the time came to replace the State Highway 7 Bridge over the Buffalo River near Pruitt, ArDOT knew the bridge project would have to be
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR A NEW BRIDGE Because the Highway 7 Bridge is
handled with special care to protect the
located over a national river, plans
national river running below it.
for a new structure required not only
HISTORY OF THE PRUITT BRIDGE
environmental considerations as well.
Known as a landmark in Newton County, the Pruitt Bridge is a two-lane
bridge design considerations but extra
“Because there were multiple project alternatives and several Section 4(f) protected resources in the project area, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requested that we follow the Least Overall Harm Section 4(f) evaluation procedures,” Pearson explained. In such a situation, FHWA may
The Environmental Assessment for the
approve only the alternative that causes
new bridge project weighed heavily with
the least overall harm in light of the
ArDOT staff.
preservation purpose of the statute. (continued on page 28)
ARKANSAS HIGHWAYS MAGAZINE | SPRING 2020
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