Texarkana, Arkansas Moves to Demolish Closed Bridge Itself as ARDOT Timeline Slips to Late 2027

TEXARKANA, Ark. – Texarkana, Arkansas officials said Monday the city plans to demolish the closed Seibert Street bridge on its own and install a temporary crossing after the Arkansas Department of Transportation told the city it cannot begin construction on a full replacement until December 2027.

City Manager Tyler Richards delivered the update during the Board of Directors meeting Monday night after East Side Drive resident Sean Taylor pressed the board on the closure, telling directors the bridge is vital to emergency response on his side of the railroad tracks.

“If a fire truck or ambulance gotta get around there, minutes make a difference in life. I’ve been in healthcare all my life,” Taylor said. “I don’t believe if it was on the north side of town it’d be still like that.”

Richards said the city secured an ARDOT grant to replace the bridge, a project estimated at roughly half a million dollars, but the agency would not allow demolition or a temporary crossing until it completed a feasibility study. That study, now finished, confirmed the bridge must be fully replaced. ARDOT also declined to reimburse the city for demolishing the structure and installing a temporary crossing on its own.

“Per ARDOT’s schedule, they will not be able to even start construction until December 2027, and that’s just not acceptable,” Richards told Taylor, adding the city is now working to gather funding to demolish the bridge, haul off the debris and install a temporary crossing itself. The city will have to rent equipment to do the work. Richards said he hopes to have a timeline within the next couple of weeks.

Taylor also asked about FEMA funding for creek erosion in the area. Staff said FEMA has not yet approved the project and is still waiting on cost estimates, with recent FEMA staffing changes affecting the process. Taylor additionally complained about four-wheelers and dirt bikes overrunning the walking trail near the creek, uncut lots and herbicide spraying along the East Side Drive right of way. Officials said signage and enforcement on the trail could be addressed.

Airport Contract Advances Aircraft Paint Facility Expected to Bring 160 Jobs

The board unanimously approved a contract with Alltec Inc. for construction manager at risk services on the maintenance, repair and overhaul project at Texarkana Regional Airport, a site preparation package tied to an aircraft painting company planning to locate at the field.

Ward 5 Director Danny Jewell pulled the item from the consent agenda, saying a project of that scale deserved public discussion. Airport officials said the facility involves four large hangars capable of holding heavy aircraft including Boeing 777s, 767s and C-130s, and is expected to employ approximately 160 people at around $60,000 per year.

Monday’s action carries no cost. Alltec will not be compensated for the pre-construction phase. The construction phase, covering site prep for the ramp, access road and water infrastructure for fire suppression, will come back to the board later with a maximum guaranteed price, currently estimated at around $20 million. Alltec will earn a 3.5 percent fee on the construction phase. Officials noted the runway extension and related airport projects total roughly $40 million to $50 million across all phases.

RV Park Owner Says Sewer Ordinance Is Taking 18 Percent of His Income

Jay Patel, owner of the Sunrise RV Park in Miller County near Mandeville, told the board a fixed sewer charge that began appearing on his bill in February 2026 is threatening his business. Patel said he bought the 114-spot park in November 2024 and averaged about $2,800 a month in water bills, roughly 8 percent of income, for his first 15 months. He is now being charged an additional $3,500 a month under a city ordinance that bills master-metered parks a minimum sewer charge of $31 per spot, occupied or not.

“Now a total of 18 percent of my income is going directly to the water company. That’s not sustainable in that kind of business,” Patel said.

Texarkana Water Utilities officials said the park, which sits outside the city limits near Mandeville but is connected to city sewer, is being billed correctly under the current ordinance, which previous ownership apparently was never charged under. Richards said any relief will require an ordinance change brought back to the board. “I promise you we’re working hard on coming up with a solution for you,” Mayor Allen Brown told Patel.

Board Adopts AI Policies Required by State Law

Directors unanimously adopted two ordinances, each with an emergency clause, establishing a generative artificial intelligence usage policy for the city and folding AI rules into the city’s personnel policy.

Chief Information Officer Brandon Uselton told the board the policy is required under state law for all Arkansas government agencies, and failure to adopt it could jeopardize the city’s access to state grant funding. The policy requires IT to vet and approve AI tools before use, mirrors an existing policy at Texarkana Water Utilities, and lists unacceptable uses including any illegal activity, with violations subject to discipline up to termination.

“Generative AI is a very powerful tool that can do amazing things and it can do terrible things,” Uselton said, describing a water utility data analysis task that would have taken four and a half to five hours done in 30 minutes with AI. “You’ve got to trust but verify.”

During citizen communication, Texas-side resident Sandy Burton urged caution on AI and surveillance technology, referencing concerns about Flock cameras and a local “DeFlock Texarkana” Facebook group.

Street Work, Downtown Private Club and Other Business

The board approved a construction contract with Francis Excavating for the East 24th Street, Oak Street and East 48th Street rehabilitation projects. Francis was the low bidder among four at $1,787,729.28. The total contract amount is not to exceed $2,144,795.14, including $357,465.86 in contingency for unforeseen base failures, funded through the 2025 general obligation street bonds.

Other consent items approved Monday included chemical purchases for water and wastewater treatment, the Lakewood Elevated Tank Contract No. 2 site work project, the Johnson Lane six-inch water main extension, a construction contract for an emergency generator at City Hall, engineering contracts with A.L. Franks Engineering for design of 2025 street bond projects including McClure Road, Line Ferry Road, Grand Avenue, East 43rd Street, East 36th Street and Arkansas Boulevard, and the purchase of a LeeBoy RA-400 asphalt injection patcher truck.

The board also:

Adopted an ordinance, with emergency clause, granting prerequisite municipal approval of a private club application for The Concho LLC at 305 Front Street downtown. The restaurant and bar plans to operate seven days a week serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. During discussion, Ward 2 Director Laney Harris raised the roughly 29 percent combined tax burden on alcohol sales on the Arkansas side compared with 8.25 percent on the Texas side, which business owners said puts them at a competitive disadvantage.

Approved a mutual aid agreement between the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department and the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope-Texarkana police department under the Arkansas Interlocal Cooperation Act.

Held a public hearing and certified cleanup liens on four overgrown lots to the Miller County tax collector. Harris abstained.

Recognized employee service awards for Misty Megason, five years with TAPD, and Terry Rogers, 15 years with Texarkana Water Utilities GIS.

During board commentary, Harris gave the city manager a list of Ward 2 neighborhood streets he wants considered if money remains from the $26 million street bond program, including Oak Street, South State Line, Forest Street, Baden Street, Mitchell Street, Hay Street, Linden Street, Pearl Street, Arkansas Street, Fox Street, Cleveland Street and Grim Street. He suggested chip sealing Ferguson Street to extend its life.

Assistant Mayor Ulysses Brewer was absent. The board went into executive session at the end of the meeting to consider an appointment to the Historic District Commission.