Rogers-Lowell Area News

Crowd Welcomes Completion of $100 Million Section of U.S. 412 Bypass

Hundreds gathered, including state and local dignitaries, to celebrate the completion of the largest single road construction contract in the state last Wednesday (April 18).

In December 2014, the Arkansas Highway Commission approved a $100.6 million project to build a 4.2-mile segment of the U.S. 412 bypass, between Arkansas Highway 112 and Interstate 49. The four-lane divided freeway, which includes 14 bridges and two interchanges, is set to open to traffic April 30, said Scott Bennett, director of the Arkansas Department of Transportation. The freeway will be Arkansas Highway 612, until other segments of the roadway are completed. When completed, the bypass will run north of Tontitown and Springdale, from Highway 412 in west Tontitown to Highway 412 east of Springdale.

In November 2012, voters approved a half-cent sales tax to pay for the $1.8 billion Connecting Arkansas Program (CAP). Dick Trammel of Rogers, chairman of the Arkansas Highway Commission, said the program included 36 projects, including the Bella Vista bypass, or Arkansas/Missouri Connector. Recently, the Northwest Arkansas Planning Commission applied for grant money to allow Missouri to complete a 4.8-mile segment of I-49 to the Arkansas/Missouri state line.

Trammel, who has six more months on the commission, received applause when he asked how the crowd liked the six-lane I-49. Highway commissioner Philip Taldo of Springdale said he has nine more years on the commission and plans to focus on the completion of the Highway 412 bypass. Taldo said the state will need the funding to complete the remaining segments of the bypass. One solution is if voters were to extend the existing half-cent sales tax, which is set to expire in 2023.

READ THE FULL STORY by Talk Business & Politics at www.TalkBusiness.net.