BENTON COUNTY -- State officials heard complaints and criticisms about ice and snow-covered highways last winter and want to avoid a repeat performance.
State Reps. Jonathan Barnett, R-Siloam Springs, and Mary Lou Slinkard, R-Gravette, applied for $200,000 in General Improvement Fund money through the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District. Checks were given to the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department on Monday for a new belly plow. Highway Department officials said it will help their crews keep state roads clear when winter returns.
Belly plows are dump trucks fitted with snow plows on the front of the truck and a steerable plow underneath, between the truck axles, said Danny Straessle with the Highway Department in Little Rock.
The weight of the truck keeps downward pressure on the belly plow, making it more effective, he said. The trucks also have up-to-date applicator systems allowing drivers to change the mixture of salt, sand and other materials, according to conditions while driving.
Barnett served on the state Highway Commission from 1999 to 2009. That has made him aware of the needs of the department, he said.
"We had such a bad winter, and the Highway Department got hit with a lot of criticism about the conditions of our highways versus our neighbors," Barnett said. "The bottom line is they just haven't had the equipment."
Critics repeatedly pointed to the difference in road conditions between Arkansas and those just across the state line in Missouri last winter, Straessle said. The department was interested in obtaining new equipment, including belly plows, but last winter made it essential, he said. The Highway Department has about 700 snow plows in service, while the southwestern Missouri district has between 500 and 700, he said.
"They see considerably more snow than we do," he said.
Steve Lawrence, district engineer for District 9 that covers Northwest Arkansas from its headquarters in Harrison, said the district has five of the new trucks assigned, with two of those permanently stationed in Benton County, Lawrence said. The truck purchased with the GIF money presented Monday will be added to that fleet and stationed at the district's office in Gentry, he said.
There are about 369 miles of state-maintained highways in Benton County, Lawrence said. The Highway Department does snow and ice removal on those roads, including the stretches inside cities, he said.
County Judge Bob Clinard said the county doesn't do snow removal on state highways. Tony Davis, Bentonville street manager, said city crews help the Highway Department to some extent but do most of their work on city streets.
"If we're going from one point to another and we're running on a state highway, we will drop our blade, but we don't spread any material," Davis said. "They do that on the state highways. We do help them at intersections with city streets and state highways. We will put down material at the intersections. Otherwise, if they're having trouble and need our help, we will work with them. We have a good working relationship with the state."
The trucks will work year round with the snow and ice removal equipment taken off when it's not needed, Straessle said.
General News on 07/16/2014