Bulletin Photo by Kevin Pieper An employee with Hardy Construction of Maumelle is lowered by crane through an opening in the roadway of the R.M. Ruthven Bridge to the bridge's understructure Tuesday. Work on restoring the historic 1930 bridge should be completed by the end of June.

Slowly, splendor of historic Cotter bridge being restored

By FRANK WALLIS
Bulletin Staff Writer

COTTER -- The painstaking work of restoring the historic R.M. Ruthven "Rainbow" Bridge over the White River here will be completed around the end of June, according to Phil Caves, foreman of the job for the Hardy Construction Co. of Maumelle.

Caves told a group of about 50 merchants and citizens on Tuesday the job has been the most challenging in his career of 35 years repairing old bridges in the South. The job also has been a dangerous one for his crew of 44 workers.

"I don't want to be remembered as the guy who got someone killed," said Caves.

Because of the location of the job some 60 feet above the river, workers must be tied off most of the time with hooks, harnesses and cable. Crews constructed a rolling scaffold to carry the heavy nets underneath the bridge to protect boaters and pedestrians underneath the bridge from falling materials.

John James, a bridge engineer for the Arkansas Highways and Transportation Department, praised the quality of workmanship and innovation Hardy Construction Co. has delivered since starting the job early in 2002. He said the project is on target budget-wise with about $1.4 million remaining in the job estimated at $6.3 million.

While the job hasn't advanced as quickly as some had anticipated, James said restoration of the old bridge to the original construction standards of 1929 has been a process of discovery that often mandated changes to construction plans.

The job included a few positive discoveries such as the unexpected good quality of structural steel in the old concrete. While some of that steel hadn't been damaged by chemical components of the concrete, workers still had to stop the heavy work to prime the old steel to stop rust.

James said Hardy's use of a rolling under-scaffold that was customized for the job is a demonstration of the company's resolve to create a safe work site while delivering the very best in materials and workmanship.

"This has been the roughest job in my 35 years," said Caves. He said the job basically replaces the "guts" of the bridge while treating, patching and cleaning the ornamental aspects of the bridge.

After the meeting, Caves said the craft, architecture and artistry that makes the R.M. Ruthven Bridge the beautiful structure it is was discovered and preserved as workers chipped away the deteriorated parts of the structure. The repair plan evolved to duplicate what the old builders did as the structure inside was revealed, he said.

Sonny Sharp, secretary of the Cotter Chamber of Commerce, told the group James and other AHTD engineers and officials deserve the city's thanks for working to keep the bridge a viable thoroughfare for motor traffic to the city. He said four years ago the future of the bridge was believed by some at the state level to be one of foot traffic only.

"This historical aspect of the bridge saved our bridge," said Sharp.

Because of the bridge's position on the National Register of Historic Structures, it qualified for restoration funding including 80 percent federal funds and 20 percent state funds.

The group also discussed a plan to finance lighting the newly refurbished bridge with a system sponsored by area individuals and merchants. Those interested in the light sponsorship program can contact Beverly Pence, president of the Cotter Chamber of Commerce, at (870) 430-5012.

frankw@baxterbulletin.com