RAZORBACKS & ROADS: THEY’RE AMONG THE SUBJECTS JACKSONVILLE MAYOR BOB JOHNSON IS THOROUGHLY PASSIONATE ABOUT
By Bill Paddack Friendly and engaging, knowledgeable and forthcoming, Jacksonville Mayor Bob Johnson welcomes a visitor to City Hall on a June afternoon and is delighted to explain a story or two behind the Razorback memorabilia in his office. It’s a terrific time to be discussing University of Arkansas athletics. The day before, the Diamond […]
ON THE TRAIL TO THE FUTURE
Arkansas Bike Trails Driving Local Revenue and Vibrant Communities By Joe Quinn Brendan Quirk was selling bicycles on the internet when many Americans really didn’t understand you could buy anything online. He steadily grew Competitive Cyclist, his Little Rock-based bicycle business, for 12 years, and then sold it to backcountry.com. He moved his family to […]
REPLACEMENT WORK FOR 2 BRIDGES ON I-30 TO USE ‘BUILD, SLIDE’ METHOD FOR 1ST TIME
by Noel Oman The Arkansas Department of Transportation will use an accelerated construction method for the first time on a $12.6 million project to replace two small bridges on Interstate 30 crossing De Roche Creek, which marks the boundary between Hot Spring and Clark counties. Under the method, the new bridges will be constructed next […]
ROAD PANEL STUDIES WISH LIST; WORK ON I-30, I-40 AMONG PROJECTS IF TAX MADE PERMANENT
An eastbound semi-trailer truck rolls along Interstate 40 between Little Rock and Memphis. Photo by Bill Paddack By Noel Oman, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 13, 2019 The Arkansas Department of Transportation would spend nearly $500 million over 20 years to widen sections of Interstate 40 between North Little Rock and West Memphis, according to a draft […]
DRIVERS REMINDED TO USE IDRIVEARKANSAS.COM FOR HOLIDAY TRAVEL INFORMATION
The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) reminds drivers to “know before you go” and visit IDriveArkansas.com before traveling during this Memorial Day Holiday. Extensive highway improvements continue through the state. With those improvements come work zones. To aid in your holiday travel, ARDOT has been working hard to open as many lanes as possible. Still, […]
GOVERNOR: WOULD WELCOME BLUEPRINT ON ROAD SPENDING
Gov. Asa Hutchinson talks Thursday in Hot Springs about plans for funding state highway improvements. He spoke at the Arkansas Rural Economic Development Conference and said he’d like the Highway Commission to develop a plan for how it would use money raised for roadways. By Michael R. Wickline, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, May 17, 2019 HOT SPRINGS […]
JOE QUINN: DON’T LET 206 MILES DIVIDE US
Highway 10 near Waveland in western Arkansas. Photo by Bill Paddack This is a commentary written by Joe Quinn for Talk Business & Politics, May 7, 2019. The now completed 2019 Arkansas General Assembly session was historic for Arkansas roads and bridges as lawmakers passed a funding package that will exceed $400 million annually if […]
CONWAY NOT BUILDING ROUNDABOUT FOR ONCE: CITY LOOKS TO CONNECT TWO BUSY HIGHWAYS
By Jordan Howington, THV11 Digital, April 15, 2019 CONWAY, Ark. — After one failed attempt, Conway’s looking to make commuting easier for drivers. The city’s partnering with the Arkansas Department of Transportation in hopes to connect two of the busiest highways in town: Highway 64 and 65. “This would create a more direct route, potentially […]
BIDS OFFERED ON 15 PROJECTS TO FIX UP ROADS
Scott Bennett, director of the Arkansas Department of Transportation, speaks during an Arkansas Highway Commission meeting on March 13 in Little Rock. By Noel Oman , Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 11, 2019 In an era of gargantuan road construction work – such as the $631.7 million project to remake the Interstate 30 corridor through downtown Little […]
ARKANSAS PARTICIPATES IN NATIONAL WORK ZONE AWARENESS WEEK
The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) is participating in National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW), April 8-12. This week is a national safety campaign observed each spring, traditionally the start of construction season, to encourage safe driving through highway work zones. This year’s national theme is, “Drive Like You Work Here.” There were 2,085 crashes […]