UPDATE: The pedestrian and biking path is now open.

EARLIER:

The pedestrian and biking path alongside the new Broadway Bridge is expected to open to the public before the July 4 holiday.

Danny Straessle, a spokesman for the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, said Friday the current plan is to open the path from the Robinson Center in Little Rock to Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock by "sometime next week."

He cautioned that the stretch will be shut in the future at times for joint sealing, though it is anticipated to be open for spectators to watch the fireworks over the Arkansas River.

The connections to the River Trail on either side of the river also won't be open at first. The North Little Rock connection ramp is slated to open weeks later while the Little Rock one, where a small truss bridge still needs to be completed, won't be ready until the fall.

The Broadway Bridge opened to traffic on March 1, a little more than 4 weeks before the deadline for crews to do so under the terms of the $98.4 million project.

Use your mouse or finger to move the interactive photos above to see a preview of how the new pedestrian and biking path will look.