State Money Tagged for Bella Vista Bypass

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

The first section of a proposed Bella Vista bypass will skirt the Hiwasse community, officials announced Wednesday morning.

A two-lane road will spur off Arkansas 72 northwest of Hiwasse and reconnect with the same highway southeast of town, state highway officials told the Northwest Arkansas Council.

The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department has allocated $43 million to the Bella Vista bypass, which will be built in sections, officials said. Another $10 million from a federal highway grant will also be utilized.

The project includes earthwork and grading to extend the two-lane bypass north from Hiwasse to the Missouri state line.

Hiwasse is an unincorporated community southwest of Bella Vista, about midway along the proposed bypass around Bella Vista.

The 14 miles of two-lane bypass on the Arkansas side of the state line is estimated to cost $160 million to $180 million.