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 Area residents, land and business owners look over a scale map of the proposed five lane highway expansion through Ash Flat at a public awareness meeting hosted by the Arkansas Highway and Transportaion Department June 11. Photo by Tammy Curtis |
Many local business owners and landowners from the area were present to discuss the proposed expansion and its impact on the area. Representatives and engineers from AHTD were present to explain the process, reasons for the expansion and right-of-way issues to the public. In addition to the discussions, a scale map of the project was available for viewing.
Ruby Jordan, public involvement section head, said the project is only in the preliminary phase and there is no cost estimate available. She said, "We will have to acquire property for right-of-ways but there is no displacement planned." This was a concern with many of the residents attending the meeting.
Representatives encouraged area residents to fill out the questionaries to provide input for the AHTD. Some of the questions pertained to historical sites, cemeteries and septic systems as well as asking for ideas that would make the project better serve the community.
Joe Trantham, District 5 construction engineer, said that any project comes from a need and this particular project was created mostly for safety purposes, but also to accommodate future growth. He said that before this project begins, the AHTD takes the public opinion polls and feedback into consideration. He said the first step is to get final approval from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Prior to this, the AHTD must submit an environmental impact statement.
After the final approval, Tranham says the 1.1 mile expansion will begin with moving utilities and the process of obtaining right-of-ways.
He said the project could begin in the fall of 2010 and said that it would take two summers to complete due to the limited working season for construction work.
The prospective five lane project is set to begin just outside Ash Flat near the Church of Christ and continue through the city to near the Citgo gas station.
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I do not see how this would make it any safer. With the turning lane, and people getting in it long before they have to turn off, would cause more accidents it appears.
rebelman- exactly what you said. I have been close to getting hit head on because people get in the center lane way too early. But in their defense, they might do that to be able to slow down before they make the turn.
Turning lanes, most of the people around here will not use it anyway. They like to stop in the fast lane and then turn, never using the turn lane.
We've gone over the 4000 posts count, and we need to celebrate that marvelous number. Wish it could be 4000 does but my rear end won't let me get up and shoot no more. This Forum has been, and will continue to be the best trash talking board covering the Village, and the Quad cities. The numskulls and idiots badmouthing me have nothing to offer, and continue to ignore the questions and concerns of the Villager home owners. Perhaps we have been abit to informative with our posts, so the restrictions imposed on the CV Mayor & City Council access should keep the loonies in the dark quite nicely. As "Mr T" always said, Pity the poor fools! As Doris Day once said, que sera sera! As The 3 Stooges once said, My corns are killing me. Why don't you do something for them? Why should I? They never did anything for me!