There it was. Right at the top of the front page of the Decatur weekly newspaper. The black headline stood out to attract every reader's attention, "Highway 59 Improvement Plan Revealed," and the first paragraph introduced the news, "The Arkansas Highway Department recently announced the initial step toward possible improvement of State Highway 59 from the Missouri State Line through western Benton County to the Washington County line."
Did you notice the word "possible" in the paragraph? Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the date of the newspaper was March 29, 1989. Why that's just 32 years ago. The second paragraph explained, "The 'Minute Order' issued in mid-February is the first step required in the long process which is subject to approval by the Federal Highway Commission, the furnishing of right-of-way and the availability of funds."
Wasn't it in the 1980s that the Bella Vista bypass began to get some attention, and here it is still under construction, hopefully, to reach completion to the Missouri line within the next few years. There are many ifs, buts and maybes involved in even the tiniest project. Usually.
The 32-year-old news item continued: "Notification came from (our then) State Representative David Matthews who wrote, 'As you know, I have been urging the Arkansas Highway Department for some time to make plans to widen and improve Highway 59 from the Missouri state line to the Washington County line. I am convinced that this is a necessary step in order to assure the continued economic prosperity and growth of the Highway 59 corridor.'"
He added, "Although no construction is imminent, this is an important first step toward making our goal of a wider and safer Highway 59 a reality. I'm hopeful the Federal Highway Administration will improve the project and that the Highway Commission will proceed as expeditiously as possible. Obviously, none of this would have been possible without the dedication and work of our local commissioner, Bobby Hopper. Once again he has shown how dedicated he is to the Northwest Arkansas area."
A short final paragraph read, "The Minute Order notes that the highway improvement is approximately 52 miles and, if finally engineered and approved, would widen and reconstruct the north-south arterial road."
Did you notice that big to, too, two-letter word, "If"?
This 'cuff is being written to explain the long, hard and challenging process that the now Arkansas Transportation Department must go through; and remember it continually hears the wants and needs from all over the state which must be taken into consideration. Hence the words if and maybe and possibly and where will we get the money? During the past 32 years, some improvements have been made in old 59: the dual lane from Siloam Springs to Gentry (a major improvement), the widening and improvement of two bridges, one in Sulphur Springs, the other near the Missouri state line, widening the highway over Spavinaw Creek, construction of a passing lane on the hill south of Gravette ... and now plans are well along for two bridges to be improved in Decatur and possibly a passing lane will be added between Gravette and Decatur. Widening shoulders has been an improvement in a few places but this is something that really needs attention on all secondary highways in Benton County.
We thank the ADT for those improvements and others south from Siloam Springs, but the needs for more improvements, which were suggested 32 years ago are, well, you know the need today is even greater, particularly widening shoulders to accommodate the truckage that occurs on a daily basis, particularly the agricultural, poultry and every other transportation vehicle.
There's more to write about old 59, including the history of the road and how its initial location poses great problems to make it a four-lane thoroughfare, particularly along the KCS Railroad between Decatur and Gentry. Maybe in a later 'cuff, you'll hear some personal problems about the highway I faced en route to Van Buren. One question I have had is why do the Feds have to just upgrade a state highway? Would it be because there is a Federal 59 just over the line in Oklahoma? The cost factor always enters into projects but, just as the old saying goes, "It ain't gonna get any cheaper" even though the necessary upgrades needed 39 years ago for the west side corridor are really growing at a rate that deserves attention.
The next 'cuff? Who knows? It's not going to be about the postage stamp garden. Perhaps another highway? Maybe just trimming bushes that are at many intersections, not only at the county roads but also in town ... 'till next time.
P.S. I would be remiss not to congratulate all the smiling-faced seniors as they have reached a major achievement in their lives. May you use what you have learned as you begin taking greater, sometimes uncertain steps. Always follow your own personal beliefs. Remember, once a step is taken, steps in the future sometimes can lead in unexpected, dangerous directions. Be your own person. You are the one who must travel. Think before you step.
Dodie Evans is the former owner and long-time editor of the Gravette News Herald. Opinions expressed are those of the author.