Years ago I made a tongue-in-cheek comment to a colleague about limited government.
"I want the government to take care of national defense and our roads," I said. "Other than that, I don't need them to do anything else."
That comment might be an exaggeration or an oversimplification, but life might be simpler if that is all the government did.
But rather than tackle the huge subject of what the government should or should not be doing, it would be easier here to simply zero in on just the notion of roads and highways.
More specifically, let's talk about travel in Northern Arkansas.
On a recent trip across the state, I was reminded of a real need concerning U.S. Highway 412.
According to a 2012 report on transportation projects that would support economic growth in Arkansas, U.S. Highway 412 was slated for improvements between Paragould and Walnut Ridge in Northeast Arkansas.
But much more could be done. The report stated, "The Highway 412 corridor is the main east-west corridor in the northern part of the state."
And because it is a main corridor, I would contend that much more needs to be done with it than simply improving a 25-mile stretch on the other side of the state.
In case you have not made the trip over to Northeast Arkansas, here is a rundown.
One leaves Springdale and travels east--well, let me clarify that. The route goes generally east, but the road itself will meander to the north or to the south on occasion, like an unskilled farmer trying to plow behind a drunken mule.
You will leave Springdale and go through Alpena, Harrison, Yellville, Mountain Home, Salem, Ash Flat, Highland, Hardy, Ravenden, and Imboden. And by that time, you are almost to eastern Arkansas.
At Imboden you can head northeast to Pocahontas and then Corning, or you can go straight and go to Walnut Ridge, then Paragould. From either Walnut Ridge or Paragould, you can veer south to Jonesboro.
If you keep going east at Paragould, you end up in the Missouri boot heel.
Most of your journey will be on a two-lane highway. Some of it is very scenic and enjoyable, but very little of it is set up to allow you to make good time on a trip to the Northeast Arkansas delta.
It might be time for the state to consider something that would greatly benefit both business and travel in northern Arkansas.
If Highway 412 were made in to a four-lane divided highway from Springdale to Paragould, it would be connecting two very vibrant areas of the state.
Most of us know that Northwest Arkansas has 505,000 people. But not all of us are aware that the two counties in the Paragould-Jonesboro area in Northeast Arkansas have 144,000 people (according to the 2010 census).
Jonesboro itself has become a hub for the Northeast Arkansas region, pulling in commerce from an even larger number of people than just those in neighboring Paragould.
In short, it would make very good sense to connect Northeast Arkansas with Northwest Arkansas with a wide-open route.
It wouldn't simply benefit the two regions of the state but all points in between.
In addition, people outside of Arkansas would find it an attractive route on long trips.
Individuals in Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee would find it very helpful when going west. Oklahomans would use it for long trips in the other direction.
And every time the out-of-state folks trekked across Northern Arkansas, they would stop and spend money along the way.
I'm not saying it's time to start building, but at the very least, it's time to talk about it.
DAVID WILSON, EdD, OF SPRINGDALE, IS A WRITER, CONSULTANT AND PRESENTER, WHO GREW UP IN ARKANSAS BUT WORKED 27 YEARS IN EDUCATION IN MISSOURI. YOU MAY E-MAIL HIM AT [email protected]. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR.
Editorial on 11/16/2016