More than 30 miles of state highways in Stone County are on the Arkansas Department of Transportation’s updated list of planned improvements for 2024.
Resurfacing of about 12 miles of state Highway 66 west of Mountain View is scheduled to be let to bidders in 2024. Frequent freezing rains, snow packs and refreezing during January and February this year widened cracks in portions of Highway 66.
Brandon Love, construction engineer for Arkansas Department of Transportation Dist. 5 said the job involves segments of paving between Leslie and South Sylamore Creek near Newnata.
“It will connect to the passing lanes west of Mountain View that were completed in 2018.” Love said. “The project will consist of overlaying the existing asphalt similar to what we did on Highway. 9 this year.”
A longer overlay to the east of Mountain View involves 22 miles of Highway 14 toward Independence County to be completed in 2024, according to the state’s list.
As for current projects, Love said ArDOT Dist. 5 planners share local anxiety regarding the ongoing Highway 263 base-stabilization and overlay project.
“According to the current schedule from the contractor, we are still hopeful the work on Highway 263 will be completed by the end of August,” Love said. (The contractor’s) schedule can change for various reasons, but we are anxious to get that part of the project complete as soon as possible.”
About 10 miles of 263 south – including the notorious hairpin curve currently undergoing work – are programmed for overlay. A bid letting has not been scheduled.
Love has said the curves on Highway 263 represent an extraordinary challenge for road builders because of the steep, crooked and narrow right-of-way. Record rains in April and June this year were an impediment to the project.
The job entails a substantial concrete build in the most erosion prone area.
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