Highway Department Looks To Fall Opening For Bypass

PRAIRIE GROVE -- The new U.S. 62 Prairie Grove bypass should be ready by Oct. 1, according to Jeff Stroud, district engineer with the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department.

Stroud said the project is not behind schedule but a harsh winter and rain in spring and early summer affected the work.

"We would have loved to have seen it open by now but the winter and rain pushed it back," Stroud said.

Murry Cline, area manager with APAC-Central construction company in Fayetteville, agreed with Stroud's opening date but added, "It depends on the weather."

The contract with APAC-Central allowed the company 200 working days to complete the project. Stroud said December-March 15 are not charged against those days. Rainy, wet days and holidays do not count toward the allowable days. APAC has put in about 140 working days, Stroud said.

The company is working now on the exposed dirt on the eastern end of the bypass, Cline said.

Other work remaining, said Stroud, is to complete connectors on both ends, lay a final two-inch layer of asphalt over the entire length of the bypass and stripe the highway.

When the new section finally opens, Stroud expects the traffic signals along the new highway will flash for several days so drivers will be aware of the new lights. The new road will have three lights, one on the eastern end, one at Mock Street and the third one at Parks Street.

"People have been driving these roads for 100 years and not used to stopping. Now, they are going to have to stop," Stroud said.

The 4.7-mile section starts near Sundowner subdivision and goes south around Prairie Grove and ends near the Pit Stop gas station on the west end of town.

While the state Highway Department has referred to the project as U.S. 62 Prairie Grove Bypass, the section will actually be a new route for U.S. 62. The current U.S. 62 that goes through town will be renamed U.S. 62 Business.

Traveling west into Prairie Grove, the new U.S. 62 route will veer off to the south and come to a traffic signal. At that intersection, vehicles can continue straight on U.S 62 or turn right to go onto U.S. 62 Business, said Larry Oelrich, director of administrative services and public works with Prairie Grove.

Traveling east from Lincoln to Prairie Grove on U.S. 62, the new route goes south with a turnoff for traffic that wants to get onto U.S. 62 Business and go into town.

Mayor Sonny Hudson said reaction from citizens on the new highway is probably mixed. Many are ready for it to open and others are a little concerned on how it will affect their businesses in town, Hudson said.

"We're ready for it to open and see how it goes," he added.