Highway Projects We'll See Start This Year
By: Rebecca Jeffrey
Updated: January 16, 2013
"Now we're excited because it's becoming a reality," Highway Commissioner Dick Trammel said.
A statewide half cent sales tax has translated into a billion dollars at the highway commissioners disposal.
"We're getting about 25 percent of the funds for the whole state in Benton and Washington county," Trammel said.
According to the State Highway and Transportation Department 5 out of the 17 highway projects planned for our area will be starting this year.
"I hope people have patience and if you see a barrel don't get upset, say it's gonna get even better in just a little while."
Patience because here's the plan:
This spring the 30 million dollar Don Tyson interchange will begin.
Followed by I-540 widening to 6 lanes between Highways 16/112 Spur to Porter Road in Fayetteville costing 9 million dollars.
Come late 2013 improvements on Great House Springs Road interchange for 2 million dollars and Elm Springs Road interchange for 4 million dollars will begin.
Finally, widening of I-540 from Wagon Wheel Road to Highway 264 to 6 lanes costing 2 million dollars.
"There will be continuous activity in my opinion for the next 5 years," Trammel said.
Trammel says with this much work traffic is expected.
"We're gonna try to make it where we can do the least traffic slow down that we can but people are gonna have to be patient with us, but I'm sure they'll smile and say, 'roads are getting better.'"
So at least now being stuck in traffic, there is a silver lining.
"Hey Northwest Arkansas, things are good," Trammel said.
All 17 projects will begin in the next 5 years and finish in 10 years.
Other projects include:
Bella Vista Bypass -- $100 million, design, utilities and construction in process
Springdale Bypass -- $150 million, design and utilities in process
NWA Regional Airport Access -- $93 million, being reviewed by public comments
Interstate 540 Projects:
Exit 62 -- $25 million, scheduled late 2014
Exit 64 -- $19 million, scheduled late 2014
Porter Road to highway 71B -- $55 million, scheduled mid-2015
Highway 71B to Highway 412 -- $30 million, schedule TBA
Highway 412 to Wagon Wheel Road -- $24 million, schedule TBA
Exit 76 --$2 million, scheduled late 2014
Highway 264 to New Hope Road -- $30 million, scheduled TBA
New Hope Road to Highways 62/102 -- $16 million, Mid-2014
Exit 85 -- $20 million, scheduled 2015
Exit 86 -- $53 million, scheduled contingent on city
Highways 62/102 to Highway 72 -- $15 million, scheduled TBA
A statewide half cent sales tax has translated into a billion dollars at the highway commissioners disposal.
"We're getting about 25 percent of the funds for the whole state in Benton and Washington county," Trammel said.
According to the State Highway and Transportation Department 5 out of the 17 highway projects planned for our area will be starting this year.
"I hope people have patience and if you see a barrel don't get upset, say it's gonna get even better in just a little while."
Patience because here's the plan:
This spring the 30 million dollar Don Tyson interchange will begin.
Followed by I-540 widening to 6 lanes between Highways 16/112 Spur to Porter Road in Fayetteville costing 9 million dollars.
Come late 2013 improvements on Great House Springs Road interchange for 2 million dollars and Elm Springs Road interchange for 4 million dollars will begin.
Finally, widening of I-540 from Wagon Wheel Road to Highway 264 to 6 lanes costing 2 million dollars.
"There will be continuous activity in my opinion for the next 5 years," Trammel said.
Trammel says with this much work traffic is expected.
"We're gonna try to make it where we can do the least traffic slow down that we can but people are gonna have to be patient with us, but I'm sure they'll smile and say, 'roads are getting better.'"
So at least now being stuck in traffic, there is a silver lining.
"Hey Northwest Arkansas, things are good," Trammel said.
All 17 projects will begin in the next 5 years and finish in 10 years.
Other projects include:
Bella Vista Bypass -- $100 million, design, utilities and construction in process
Springdale Bypass -- $150 million, design and utilities in process
NWA Regional Airport Access -- $93 million, being reviewed by public comments
Interstate 540 Projects:
Exit 62 -- $25 million, scheduled late 2014
Exit 64 -- $19 million, scheduled late 2014
Porter Road to highway 71B -- $55 million, scheduled mid-2015
Highway 71B to Highway 412 -- $30 million, schedule TBA
Highway 412 to Wagon Wheel Road -- $24 million, schedule TBA
Exit 76 --$2 million, scheduled late 2014
Highway 264 to New Hope Road -- $30 million, scheduled TBA
New Hope Road to Highways 62/102 -- $16 million, Mid-2014
Exit 85 -- $20 million, scheduled 2015
Exit 86 -- $53 million, scheduled contingent on city
Highways 62/102 to Highway 72 -- $15 million, scheduled TBA
