Northbound Interstate 430 bridge lanes at Little Rock to close at 6 p.m. to look for missing workers

Traffic backs up in Interstate 430 bridge after three men fell into the water on scaffolding. (Courtesy Today's THV)

The Trucker News Services

4/2/2008

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A rescue official says three construction workers are presumed dead after falling from the Interstate 430 into the swollen Arkansas River.

As a result of the accident, officials say they will shut down the northbound lanes of the busy bridge beginning at 6 p.m. today.

The three men were on a platform under the bridge when the platform fell into the Arkansas River. Officials said they fell about 100 feet. The platform weighs about 5,000 pounds.

Crews have hooked the scaffolding platform and deputies say they believe the three men are still harnessed to it.

They will use a crane to pull it to the surface. The lanes will be closed until the efforts to pull the scaffolding from the river are finished, and they say they don't know how long this will take. Motorists will need to find an alternate route and avoid this area.

Little Rock Fire Capt. Jason Weaver says the rescue operation turned into a recovery effort when there was no sign of the men for more than an hour after their fall Wednesday. Divers could not enter the water because the current was too swift.

Pulaski County Sheriffs Office spokesman John Rehrauer says a fourth man was able to hold on and call for help.

Central Arkansas Water utility spokeswoman Marie Crawford says the men were working for a company that was installing waterlines under and across the bridge.