After waiting several decades for a new bridge, residents and those who travel to and from Nine Mile Ridge through Hardy will have to wait a little longer.
Progress on the Humphrey Ford Bridge Project on Nine Mile Ridge north of Hardy will be delayed after workers returned to the job site June 2 to find some of their necessary equipment missing.
According to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, an investigation into the thefts is underway.
Thieves were reportedly able to steal spreader chains that now could cause a delay or shut down on the project.
Sarah Malo, with For Every Dog Rescue who is a resident of the Nine Mile community and frequently travels back and forth transporting animals and for personal reasons said the delay of the project is disheartening.
“As the bridge being our main way of getting to town. We were truly looking forward to it being finalized.. It is very hard to get people out to our rescue because they hate to come across the low water bridge.. It has stopped many volunteers and adopters from coming out.. With the new bridge going in it gave promise of having a more productive rescue,” Malo said. “Being able to cross the river during floods stops us from having to go 45 minutes out of our way just to get to Hardy. The little bridge won’t last forever and with the amount of summer traffic around and on that small bridge it is very difficult to get from one side to the other..On occasion we have to wait up to 20 minutes just across the bridge due to the rafting and canoeing groups of people. Not to mention the people fishing and children playing on it.. I find it heartbreaking that people have to steal and wreak havoc on progress..”
In an interview with K8 News, Arkansas Department of Transportation Resident Engineer Adam Watson said spreader chains are very costly and are necessary to complete the job.
“On this project, the contractor has been using these chains to set a steel beam in place, and without these chains, it makes it a task that’s almost impossible to complete,” Watson told K8.
The chains have been used to set steel beams in place and without them, efficiency will be delayed.
Anyone with information on the stolen equipment is asked to contact the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office in Salem at 870-895-2601.
Lauren is a an award-winning journalist who decided after 10 years of newspaper experience to venture out. Hallmark Times was born.
