The I-440 East offramp bridge to Highway 365 over Fourche Creek is a vital transportation link serving the Port of Little Rock, Clinton National Airport, and major freight corridors. Built in 1976, the bridge supports critical passenger and freight movement essential to the region’s economy.
An ARDOT inspection revealed severe scour damage that exposed foundation piles by nearly 20 feet and caused excessive pile cap movement under no live load, signaling a compromised substructure and risk of collapse. The bridge was immediately closed, disrupting airport access, freight operations, and industrial traffic.
Garver evaluated multiple repair options and developed an innovative, floodway compliant solution using advanced hydraulic modeling and nontraditional scour countermeasures. The design incorporated articulating concrete block (ACB) mats for low profile scour protection and lightweight cellular concrete within permanent cofferdams to stabilize exposed piles without adding excessive weight. GIS-based visualization improved accuracy and stakeholder coordination.
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