GOOD ROADS
Spring Blooms Across the State: ARDOT Planted the First Wildflower
Seeds 23 Years Ago
Engineering Solutions for Historic Arkansas Highway
U.S. Highway 65 Through Leslie Poses Unique Challenges
Robert
Moery President
Lance Lamberth Vice President
D.B. Hill, III Secretary/Treasurer
Harold Beaver
Graycen Bigger
JoAnne Bush
George
Mark
Shannon
Chris Villines
Jim Wooten
ARKANSAS GOOD ROADS FOUNDATION
The Arkansas Good Roads/Transportation Council was established in 1975 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt and tax-deductible organization. In 2015, the council was re-established as a foundation in order to be a more visible and credible voice on behalf of the mission of the Arkansas Highway Commission and the Arkansas Department of Transportation. The purpose of the foundation is to promote adequate funding and financing for the planning, development, construction, and maintenance of a safe and efficient highway, street, road, and bridge system, including transportation enhancements. The work increases statewide economic growth, private sector job creation and retention, and improves the quality of life in all Arkansas counties, municipalities, and communities.
Joe Quinn, Executive Director goodroadsfoundation@gmail.com
Kathryn Tennison, Editor kathryn@bestmanagement.net
Celia Blasier, Designer graphics@bestmanagement.net
Arkansas Good Roads Foundation P.O. Box 25854 Little Rock, Arkansas 72221
Executive Board
D.B. Hill, III Secretary/Treasurer Little Rock
Harold Beaver Rogers
JoAnne Bush Lake Village
Mark Hayes Little Rock
Shannon Newton Little Rock
Robert Moery President Little Rock
Chris Villines Little Rock
Jim Wooten Beebe
Philip Taldo Springdale (Non-Voting Member)
Lance Lamberth Vice President Batesville
Curt Green Texarkana
Graycen Bigger Pocahontas
Jerry Holder Little Rock
George Cress Little Rock
Changes Across the Arkansas Infrastructure World
Joe Quinn, AGRF Executive Director
Jared Wiley is quietly putting his mark on the department by making changes where needed. If you are paying attention, you will see the department quietly doing things it has never done before. During the January snowstorm that in many ways shut down the state for the better part of a week, ARDOT unleashed an aggressive communication strategy to help citizens deal with the frozen, snow-covered roads.
It wasn’t just about using tons of salt and brine and hundreds of plows; it was about a digital and media communication strategy to tell snowbound Arkansas the latest on travel conditions. It was another reminder that Wiley is never afraid to step out of the spotlight to show off the smart people managing the department at all levels. In the case of the storm, Communication Director Dave Parker had regional engineers across the state sending in videos of them talking very specifically about what was happening in their part of the state.
This hyperlocal communication strategy worked. When you have hundreds of employees working 12hour shifts, and they all have iPhones in their pockets, why not tap into that network to more effectively tell the winter weather story? It’s all a very long way from paper news releases and tightly scripted department messaging. It’s a refreshing environment that reminds us the department trusts its young leaders on critical days.
It’s a long way from a day years ago when an angry governor was calling the department to ask why I-40
from Little Rock to Memphis had not been plowed during a major snow event.
It’s also clear right now that the culture at the department is to listen to ideas and concerns expressed by the companies and people who build, design, repair, and finance roads and bridges across the state. At our Good Roads Summer Policy Meeting in Hot Springs last July, a new Good Roads member asked me if I thought she could get some time at the meeting to talk to a specific senior leader at ARDOT.
They had a conversation over chicken wings in a restaurant at Oaklawn. A few days later, she called me to say, “We had a really productive conversation, do you think you can connect us for some followup questions I have?” I said absolutely, and she later expressed surprise at how promptly she heard back from this senior ARDOT leader, and how her suggestions were thoughtfully received.
This is a culture that has changed. In years and decades gone by, there were periods where the relationship between the department and contractors was strained and at times confrontational. But that doesn’t seem to be the case now.
Speaking of change, we are working right now on a new Good Roads website. The goal is to better integrate magazine content into the website, make it easier for our members to pay for dues and sponsorships, and give more visibility to our members and sponsors.
More change in Benton County, where the Quorum Court voted 10-4 recently to ban highway billboards on state highways designated as Scenic Corridors. The ordinance also applies to the planned 412 Springdale Bypass area and the new airport connector road.
County Judge Barry Moehring cited beautification as the main goal of the ordinance. Moehring points out that the road to and from the airport will be the place where many people get a first impression of Northwest Arkansas, and it’s important that the scenic beauty of the area be protected.
The Good Roads Summer Policy Meeting will be held in Springdale this July. We think the meeting will be larger and more visible than anything we have done before. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Feel free to call me at 479-426-5931 if you would like to discuss how your company can be visible at a larger regional event featuring ARDOT leadership,
We are very excited to have new members joining the Good Roads effort to tell the infrastructure story. AFCO Steel is a major player in the national steel business and a great Arkansas company. AFCO creates a wide range of steel products and drives new jobs and economic growth in Arkansas. So proud to have them with us. We also want to welcome Olsson, who has also joined Good Roads. The company is one of the 75 largest engineering and design firms in the nation and provides services for infrastructure, land, water, energy, and technology projects. Great to have dynamic companies like AFCO and Olsson providing strategic input on how we support Arkansas infrastructure development.
Thanks for checking out our magazine this month. If you have thoughts on content or story ideas, please send us a note. In the meantime, put that phone down when you drive.
Fighting Trash on Arkansas Roadways
By Deborah Horn
Would it surprise you to know that an estimated 32 million pieces of litter clutter Arkansas’s roads, based on the state’s 2024-25 data, and that Keep Arkansas Beautiful reported that their volunteers collected 1,366 tons of trash during 2024, cleaning more than 770,000 acres of public areas? In 2025, Adopt-AHighway volunteers collected more than 4,300 bags of trash. ARDOT Director Jared Wiley says, “Litter is a problem.”
According to ARDOT, with more than 100,000 right-of-way acres to maintain along the Arkansas State Highway System, which stretches almost 16,500 miles, cleanup is not cheap. For example, during the 2020 Fiscal Year, ARDOT spent approximately $4.3 million to pick up 46,854 cubic yards of litter. Since then, the cost has nearly doubled.
More Than Just Building Roads
In 2025, under the newly named Director Wiley, ARDOT escalated budget and hours devoted to a more sophisticated communication strategy across the department functions. This year, through a program dubbed Litter Letter, ARDOT is campaigning for a cleaner, more beautiful Arkansas; after all, Wiley says, “We’re the natural state, so we thought what would be better than to use the word ‘natural’ followed by a question mark?”
The campaign was born out of a conversation between Wiley and Steve Frisbee, ARDOT Assistant Chief Engineer for Maintenance, and one concept was borrowed from the Bella Vista Litter Patrol.
The Litter Letter program features 5-foot-tall, wiremesh lettering that spells out “NATURAL?”; it was designed by ARDOT staff and built by Scott Munson, an Advanced Welder at ARDOT. It wasn’t the usual project. Munson says, “Really, the only challenges were deciding on the letter size for it to be seen from the roadway, and it taking longer than I projected it would take.” But it was worth the effort, and he says, “I am honored to be a part of such an incredible project at ARDOT. Hopefully, people will see and use this and not litter our roadways.”
The letters are constructed from hollow wire mesh and filled with trash collected by local maintenance crews. At each site, four consecutive signs make short statements or ask questions. The first sign reads, “ARDOT spends over $8 million per year combating litter.” A second reads, “Are you part of the problem or the solution?” The third sign asks, “Please help us keep Arkansas natural.” The final one asks, “NATURAL?”
These displays debuted near Jonesboro on Interstate-555 and Bentonville I-49 in January, and are now on display near Pine Bluff on I-530 and near
Photo courtesy of ARDOT.
Fighting Trash on Arkansas Roadways
Arkadelphia on I-40. “The average taxpayer may not know how much ARDOT spends each year picking up litter from our highways. Our goal is to raise awareness for all Arkansans and travelers in our state,” says Frisbee.
Defining Their Objectives
Frisbee says, “Our goal for the Litter Letters initiative is to transform something negative— trash collected straight from our highways—into a powerful, visual statement that cannot be overlooked. By putting litter on display in a creative way, we’re making sure the public sees the impact firsthand, which is much more effective than a sign or a website slogan. ARDOT wants to catch people’s attention and spark a real conversation. Over the past several years, I have observed a steady increase in both the expenses
and labor required to tackle litter on our highways. While this initiative is undeniably necessary, I am convinced that if we could reduce the volume of litter deposited annually, taxpayers would see those resources redirected toward more effective highway maintenance. By lowering the amount of waste, we could focus our efforts and budgets on improving infrastructure rather than constantly battling litter, ultimately benefiting everyone who relies on our roads.”
Frisbee adds, “We want to challenge every Arkansan and visitor to take part in solving our ongoing litter problem.”
Wiley says, “Arkansas is ‘The Natural State’, and we, as the Arkansas Department of Transportation, have a unique responsibility to help preserve the beauty that surrounds our infrastructure. We need to protect and preserve what we have.”
Wiley is Arkansas-born and raised, and grew up in Malvern, which is surrounded by state and national parks. He visited all 52 Arkansas State Parks with his family, and the state’s natural and diverse beauty had an impact on them. He doesn’t want to see those views ruined by trash, saying, “Litter is so unsightly.”
He adds, “In addition to the money we spend on litter pickup each year, we are always exploring new ways to combat the litter problem. We hope these litter letters resonate with the traveling public and spur positive change.” Already, ARDOT has been contacted
Photo courtesy of Deborah Horn.
Photo courtesy of ARDOT.
Fighting Trash on Arkansas Roadways
by state and national organizations and private companies from around the country. Wiley says, “The word is getting out, and it’s creating a buzz on social media…It’s working as intended and even better.”
Why Bother?
The Litter Letter project is part of the “Keep It Clean, Arkansas” campaign. It’s an ongoing, longterm anti-litter campaign launched by ARDOT in 2021 to combat the roughly 32 million pieces of litter that accumulate annually on state highways. The initiative, featuring education, public service announcements, and events like the March 17th Cleanup Day and No Trash November, is designed to help protect the environment and save money.
Littered roadways are often the first thing tourists notice about Arkansas, and this isn’t the image we want to project. It’s important we address this issue, Wiley says.
According to the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, about 52 million visitors spent a record $10.3 billion in 2026, with a total direct and indirect economic impact of about $17.4 billion. The ARDOT Director is also working with the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, and says, “Seeing their passion is inspiring.”
Wiley is part of the Natural State Initiative Advisory Council, which is led by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ husband, Bryan Sanders. Their 2026 Natural State Initiative aims to boost Arkansas’s economy by promoting tourism, education, and recruiting outdoor recreation opportunities and businesses.
Citizen Involvement
Ahead of the March 17th ARDOT Cleanup Day, the Adopt-A-Highway program’s website was updated to make it easier for residents to see how they can get involved and how to adopt a stretch of highway, Wiley says. At this time, it can be accessed through the IDriveArkansas website.
According to ARDOT, with more than 100,000 right-of-way acres to maintain along a State Highway System that stretches almost 16,500 miles, litter is a problem. For example, during the 2020 Fiscal Year, ARDOT spent approximately $4.3 million to pick up 46,854 cubic yards of litter. Since then, the cost has nearly doubled. Wiley says nonsecular and religious organizations across the state can help, and since 1987, more than 4,500 groups have adopted sections of highway in all areas of the state. The program raises public awareness of what it takes to maintain the highway right-of-way and encourages individuals to personally help keep Arkansas clean.
For those who sign up, ARDOT will help coordinate litter pickup and monitor activities for safety; supply safety vests, warning signs, and trash bags; and dispose of filled trash bags. ARDOT will also install an Adopt-A-Highway sign bearing an organization’s name, providing public recognition of its service.
For more information, go to: https://site. idrivearkansas.com/index.php/contact/adopt-ahighway.
Photo courtesy of ARDOT.
Spring Blooms Across the State: ARDOT Planted the First Wildflower Seeds 23 Years Ago
By Deborah Horn
During the 1990s, when Robert Phelps and his wife were driving through Virginia and Tennessee, they were amazed by the wildflowers that filled the medians.
“The colors were glorious and blew us away,” he told Arkansas Good Roads in 2015. More importantly, he said he wondered at the time, “Why doesn’t Arkansas have a similar program?”
Soon after that, he retired from advertising and accepted the position of director of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission. Eventually, he and Ralph Hall, former ARDOT Deputy Director and Chief Engineer, began discussing planting native flowers along Arkansas highways. Phelps left the commission in
2017, but not before the ARDOT Wildflower Program took root.
A Growing Concern
For drivers who are too busy to stop and smell the flowers, ARDOT brings the blooms to motorists through its Wildflower Program, which was started in 2003. This year, again, promises colorful vistas along approximately 1,300 miles, or more than 200,000 acres, of the state’s roadways.
“The popularity of the program has been consistent through the years,” from about 1,000 miles to 1,300 miles, and almost all of these additions have been in response to requests from the public, says Erica
Photo courtesy of ARDOT.
Adams, ARDOT
Assistant Chief Engineer of Planning.
For this article, Adams consulted with Kayti Ewing, ARDOT Natural Resources Section Head-Environmental Division, and Joseph Ledvina, ARDOT Advanced Natural Resources SpecialistEnvironmental Division, before responding.
About 1,200 miles of Arkansas’s highways have been designated as Wildflower Routes, based on the presence of naturally occurring wild flora populations, and are protected. Adams says, “Surveys will be conducted next year to identify new roadsides for the program since the original surveys in the 1990s.”
The program “enhances roadside wildlife habitat, provides an attractive roadside environment and food sources for the pollinators like honeybees, beetles, and wasps. It protects Arkansas’ native plant populations.” In fact, she says, “My route home, (US) Highway 167, is a designated Wildflower Route. When everything starts to bloom, it just makes the drive so much better! So beautiful.”
Where and When to Plant
Arkansas is home to more than 2,700 species of plants. Most of them are native to the state and well-adapted to Arkansas living. “The species in our standard seeding application were chosen because they are some of the easiest to grow, and each occurs mostly statewide.”
After most highway construction projects, ARDOT plant species include: black-eyed Susan, showy evening primrose, lance-leaf coreopsis, tickseed coreopsis, purple coneflower, and prairie blazing star. According to ARDOT guidelines, wildflower populations can only be established along interstates and primary highways with wide rights-of-way. Adams says, “The Department is working on adding two new species to the standard seeding species,
partridge pea and pale purple coneflower.”
Projects on federal land or state conservation land include a special provision in the job contract for the sowing of a native seed mix consisting of three native grasses (big bluestem, little bluestem, and Indian grass), along with seven flowers (lance-leaf coreopsis, black-eyed Susan, prairie blazing star, partridge pea, butterfly weed, pale purple coneflower, and wild bergamot).
Planting sites are limited by safety restrictions, site accessibility, chemical and physical soil characteristics, and seed availability. Adams says the Department typically spends $10,000 to $20,000 a year on wildflower-related activities, including but not limited to site prep, seeding, and monitoring.
Growing Local
Adams says, “When the program started, we would sometimes plant non-native species like Crimson Clover and Ox-eye Daisy. However, we eventually transitioned to only plant species that are native to Arkansas.” Now, ARDOT’s Operation Wildflower Program is modelled after the programs originally championed by Ladybird Johnson, who famously said, “Native plants give us a sense of where we are in this great land of ours”. Both Ewing and Ledvina decided they wanted Texas to look like Texas and Vermont to look like Vermont, saying, “We want Arkansas to look like Arkansas.”
Adams says, “The Department typically gets a few inquiries each year from members of the public who want to sponsor an area under the department’s Operation Wildflower program.” These help establish new roadside wildflower populations. Once rooted, the wildflowers put on a big, colorful show.
The cost for a sponsor to participate in the program has held steady at $300 to $400 per acre, depending
Photos courtesy of Deborah Horn.
Wildflowers
on seed availability at the time. As interest in seeding native wildflowers has risen across the country, availability has increased, and costs have not really risen with inflation.
“The Department also provides a bonus for anyone spending more than $500, a small sign below our Wildflower Area sign that says, ‘Sponsored by and the name of the sponsor,’” Adams says.
The ARDOT Wildflower Sign Program is designed to increase public awareness of its Wildflower Program. The signage denotes “Native Wildflower Area” locations. This helps identify, protect, and promote natural wildflower populations along highways.
To allow the flowers to thrive and return year after year, ARDOT maintenance practices are modified, including the timing and frequency of roadside mowing. Adams says that, done at the right time, mowing can actually help spread seeds and reduce long-term maintenance costs. Annual mowing ensures that trees don’t shade out the wildflowers that prefer sunny locations and that provide habitat and nectar for the butterflies.
More than saving money, Jared Wiley, ARDOT Director, says ARDOT’s Wildflower Program is beneficial for reasons that are harder to quantify. The wildflowers also make the view from the car a whole lot prettier, and that’s good for Arkansas’ bottom line. According to the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, programs such as anti-littering and roadside wildflowers foster tourism and outdoor recreation, which are now two of the state’s fastestgrowing economic sectors. He adds, “It’s great for tourism.”
State-Federal Partnership
In 2020, ARDOT finalized an agreement with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) to establish
a voluntary conservation program for several species that have the potential to require federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. Adams says, “The flagship species in our agreement is the Monarch Butterfly, but it also covers the Frosted Elfin Butterfly and six species of crayfish. You might think that crayfish wouldn’t have much in common with butterflies, but these aren’t the crayfish you see in lakes and streams. The burrowing crayfish that live in roadside ditches typically require an open, grassy habitat to thrive, and the Department’s annual mowing keeps the trees at bay there, as well,” Adams says. The agreement safeguards current roadside maintenance practices by confirming they are compatible with providing habitat for these species. This agreement has also been a driver of ARDOT’s expanded wildflower establishment, as they promised to increase efforts across all of their Wildflower Programs. Adams says, “In return, the agreement will streamline the process for getting USFWS approval for all ARDOT activities should any of these species become listed.”
More Flowers to See
ARDOT suggests motorists check the ARDOT Wildflower Program website and time their trips when a favorite wildflower is in bloom—much like motorists who travel the state to see the trees in fall color. She says there are several opportunities throughout the year to see different wildflowers in full bloom.
Key ARDOT Wildflower routes include: I-49 in Washington County, known for Showy Evening
Primrose; I-40 near Conway, featuring Baby Blue Eyes; Ark. Hwy. 7 in the Ouachitas, featuring Blackeyed Susans and Goldenrod; Ark. Hwy. 62 near Eureka Springs, featuring Ozark Primrose; and U.S. Hwy. 425 in the Delta, featuring Summer Sunflowers and Ironweed.
ARDOT Wildflower locations also include the Cherokee Prairie Natural Area near Charleston, featuring high-quality prairie remnants, grasses, and wildflowers; H.E. Flanagan Prairie Natural Area near Charleston, featuring Blazing Star; Baker Prairie Natural Area in Harrison, featuring Tallgrass Prairie and prairie wildflowers; and Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area near Lonsdale, featuring white and purple wildflowers such as the rare Arkansas RoseGentian, Arkansas Bluestar, and Carolina Larkspur.
They also list the best bloom times. From April through June, the Showy Evening Primrose, Indian Paintbrush, and Lance-leaf Coreopsis are in peak season, followed by Carolina Larkspur and Spider Lily from May through July. From June through October, blooming flowers include Black-eyed Susan,
Wild Bergamot, Rough Blazing Star, Tickseed, and Goldenrod.
“In addition, the Department purchases mitigation properties to offset impacts associated with highway construction. The Department has expanded wildflower efforts to some of these mitigation properties. For example, 40 acres near Pencil Bluff in the western Ouachitas was seeded in 2024, and a 35-acre meadow was seeded just south of Hot Springs Village last month,” Adams says.
Jessie Jones, Chief Engineer-Preconstruction, says, “I love the wildflowers on the roadside. They are beautiful. I wish we did more wildflower routes.”
ARDOT also publishes Wildflower Program literature. Valerie Baney, a member of the ARDOT Director’s Office, says, “We have an amazing wildflower brochure. I love handing it out to people.”
For more information about the ARDOT Wildflower Program or a Wildflower Brochure, go to: ardot.gov/divisions/environmental/natural-resources/ wildflower-program/, or follow them on their Facebook page.
Engineering Solutions for Historic Arkansas Highway
U.S. Highway 65 Through Leslie Poses Unique Challenges
By Deborah Horn
Leslie wasn’t always a sleepy little town of about 500 with distinctive and descriptive names like Hubbin Hill Road or Trickle Down Drive, the Devil’s Backbone Mountain and its rapid descent, as it twisted and snaked its way down from Marshall into Leslie.
Like the Ozarks, Leslie has history. At one time, the town’s population of about 1,900 eclipsed most other towns in Northwest Arkansas, and it was home to possibly the world’s largest whiskey barrel makers, H.D. Williams and Peken Cooperage Company, with approximately 1,200 employees producing about 5,000 barrels a day.
That stretch of road, U.S. Hwy. 65, wasn’t paved until the early 1930s; it was better to ship products by train. These days, the mostly two-lane road from north of Marshall to south of Leslie still wraps around the hills and ridges, but modern asphalt application has made the drive less hair-raising and faster.
However, there’s more work to be done to accommodate the widening of Hwy. 65 to five lanes from where it enters southeast Arkansas, after crossing the Mississippi River, and exits just north of Omaha into Missouri, says Mike Fugett, Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) Assistant Chief Engineer
The work at Leslie includes the installation of a new, wider bridge better able to accommodate modern truck weights and sizes, and Mike Fugett, ARDOT Assistant Chief Engineer for Design, says, “It’s a really pretty bridge, same as in our national forest areas and similar in style to old WPA (Works Progress Administration) bridges.”
Rebuilding Highway 65
for Design. “Much of the widening is completed,” but there are sections within the Boston Mountains, the most rugged subset of the Ozark Mountains, which present “special challenges” and have yet to be tackled.
Learning From Past Projects
“Interstate 49, from Alma to Fayetteville, presented many of the problems that we are encountering at Leslie…We learned a lot,” Fugett says. And, he adds, like the Northwest Arkansas project, this stretch of Hwy. 65 and its feeder routes present a once-in-alifetime opportunity.
This section of Hwy. 65 is the unique design challenge that most engineers enjoy, Fugett says. “You
get the most satisfaction working on a project like this, and it’s also fun for our design staff to try to figure out all those intricate details. It’s like trying to get all the pieces to fit together of a jigsaw puzzle.”
There are several planned widening and work projects for Hwy. 65, but at the moment, ARDOT is focused on the work on U.S. Hwy. 65 and Ark. Hwy. 66, where the roadways intersect in Leslie.
The Road Work
About a half-mile south of the Hwy. 65 and the Ark. Hwy. 66 intersection on Hwy. 65, ARDOT is working on a slide repair. Essentially, the embankment that runs along Cove Creek is failing; as a result, Fugett says, “We have to go in and shore the base so we don’t lose the road.”
The job was awarded to Keller North America, Inc. at a cost of $6.1 million, and is expected to be completed in 2026. The second project involves improvements from the intersection at highways 65 and 66, as well as straightening two 90-degree turns on Hwy. 66 through Leslie. This will eliminate 18-wheelers “coming off the (Alco) mountain” and missing either hairpin turn because of brake failure or other mishaps, Fugett says. Local businesses don’t have to worry about a commercial vehicle crashing through their front door.
It also includes the installation of a new, wider bridge better able to accommodate modern truck
Leslie is known for Serenity Farm Bakery’s breads.
Rebuilding Highway 65
weights and sizes, and Fugett says, “It’s a really pretty bridge, same as in our national forest areas and similar in style to old WPA bridges.” Due to alignment constraints, the bridge consists of R.C. Slab units on each approach with a W-Beam unit over the creek.
The work on Hwy. 66, Job 090672, will feature two 14-foot lanes, curb and gutter, a five-foot sidewalk, and straighten the two sharp turns, one on Main and one on Oak streets. The contractor is Crouse Construction Co., at a cost of about $6.4 million, and the project is expected to be completed in late 2027.
Pre-Construction
Before the asphalt hits the ground, Fugett says, engineers need to get eyes on the road. In this area, rocky cliffs, valleys, streams, and hairpin turns can cause major headaches for designers,
even forcing them to reroute the highway due to prohibitive costs or other constraints. Fugett says, “It’s very tricky.”
Beyond the initial design considerations and/ or obstacles, soil samples must be taken and subsoil evaluations conducted. Fugett says, “After the
In 1910, Leslie had a population of about 1,900, eclipsing most other towns in Northwest Arkansas, and it was home to possibly the world’s largest whiskey barrel makers, H.D. Williams and Peken Cooperage Company, with approximately 1,200 employees producing about 5,000 barrels a day.
Once a bustling town with a major industry, Leslie’s population is now around 500. ARDOT is currently working in downtown Leslie to straighten two hairpin curves and replace a bridge.
subsurface investigations, we know where the rock (base) is.” Often, the Boston Mountains, with high ridges and valleys, consist of compressed sandstone and shale layers, and the region’s karst topography includes numerous caves, springs, and sinkholes, making design even more problematic.
Fugett says, “There are environmental studies to
be done, especially in the streams. Our staff evaluates what ecosystem provides to the species.” For example, he says, “There is some type of endangered species, like a mussel, in the creek.”
Also, ARDOT relies on other professionals to pinpoint where a species is located, and “Sometimes a species can be relocated, but sometimes not, and it’s at that point the designers need to rethink the plan. The protection of Arkansas’s environment is always a huge deal for the department,” Fugett says.
Once those issues are resolved, rights-of-way must be obtained from often-reluctant landowners, and utilities relocated. Fugett says, “We have to keep costs manageable, while being fair to property owners.”
Throughout the design process and before construction, ARDOT personnel host public meetings, allowing residents to get a good picture of what’s planned. Fugett says, “I encourage people to attend public meetings. They know what’s needed, and we want to hear from them.” ARDOT also posts job information and descriptions on their website, and if a person can’t make a meeting, they suggest they study the information and reach out to ARDOT with questions.
Ultimately, Fugett says, “Our goal is to build a safer road and create a more enjoyable drive for motorists.”
About a half-mile south of the U.S. Hwy. 65 and Ark. Hwy. 66 intersection at Leslie on Hwy. 65, ARDOT is working on a slide repair. Essentially, the embankment that runs along Cove Creek is failing; as a result, the department is shoring up the base so they don’t lose that section of road.
Talent and Technology Drive Arkansas Engineering Work
One Unique Event Tells a Larger Story of Change
By Joe Quinn
To get a true sense of the state of engineering work in Arkansas, it’s worth attending the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) 2026 Arkansas Engineering Excellence Awards. The projects recognized range from extremely large and complex to relatively small ones that improve the quality of life in communities. The night is about thoughtful and innovative work that means a great deal to public and private sector entities across the state.
One policy issue that jumps out is that water and wastewater issues are rapidly becoming a priority in Arkansas. Water treatment facilities are both expensive to upgrade and often outdated. These are not easy upgrades that a community can just make with a temporary budget patch.
In previous decades, the Arkansas infrastructure discussion often only referred to transportation. But now infrastructure development through the state means access to roads, water, electricity, and broadband communication. Sophisticated engineering solutions will be needed from hundreds of bright young engineers to maintain the Arkansas quality of life in the years ahead. It will take significant budget, immense planning, committed engineering firms, and a steady flow of newly trained engineers for solutions to keep up with very real challenges.
To put this issue into a real economic and quality of life focus, you don’t have to look further than municipal planning commissions in Northwest Arkansas, turning down certain projects because the local sewer systems are already at capacity.
The Awards
At the annual ACEC engineering awards night, Crist Engineers Inc. wins the water and wastewater award for a four-million-gallon elevated water storage tank that will serve the Benton, Washington, Regional Public Water Authority. Northwest Arkansas touts its population and economic growth on a variety of platforms each day, but it’s companies like Crist
Talent & Technology Drive AR Engineering
Engineers finding the infrastructure solutions that will allow the region to continue to deal with the influx of moving vans on any given week.
Two other awards spotlight the Northwest Arkansas growth management issues. Halff Engineering
wins the environmental award of the evening for Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements in Gravel Ridge. Olsson Engineering is honored for creating a Northwest Arkansas Energy and Environment Innovation Plan for the NWA Regional Planning Commission.
Aviation infrastructure is also a part of the 2026 infrastructure development conversation in Arkansas. Halff Engineering is recognized for an aircraft arresting system done at the Saline County Airport, and Michael Baker International is honored for taxiway work done for the city of Bryant at the Saline County Airport.
with so many entities involved in making good engineering and development decisions.”
Just by attending the Engineering Excellence Awards dinner, Wiley sends a message that ARDOT has a far better relationship than it once did with vendors designing, building, repairing, and financing hundreds of projects.
The new Easterseals playground is an example of a local project that matters to a community.
A couple of hours before dinner, ARDOT Director Jared Wiley was sitting in his office reflecting on the depth and breadth of engineering work that fuels development in Arkansas. With so much going on in 2026, Wiley says, “Listening is the biggest part of this job. By nature, I’m more of a listener than a speaker, and that matters right now
The night before this dinner, US Congressman Steve Womack was conducting a telephone town hall with more than 1,000 listeners. Womack is a strong advocate for finding federal funding for Arkansas projects. He is also a former Rogers mayor, more than comfortable discussing the intricacies of the new Springdale Bypass, the economic impact of the new bridge over the Arkansas River at Barling, and the need to create more nighttime parking and sleeping spaces for truck drivers. Like Wiley, Womack understands that longterm infrastructure planning and funding are easier if communities and people are willing to work together.
In a category called Small Projects, Crafton Tull wins the award for a colorful and bright playground design for the Easterseals Academy. The category is for projects that cost under $2.5 million. It won’t be close to the largest project Crafton Tull does this year, but it certainly will create a wonderful playground for young people. Quality engineering work can change the look and feel of one facility or location, and that can start a resurgence in a whole neighborhood.
Matt Crafton says, “Our team loves doing projects like this that have a very real community impact. They are fun to work on, but that doesn’t mean they are not without certain complexities. The land at
ARDOT Director Jared Wiley says listening to communities is key to smart planning.
Talent & Technology Drive AR Engineering
Easterseals was in the middle of a complex two-part water easement site. We had to work around that to get to a finished project that everyone loved. This was an example of a project that was really needed by the people who would use the playground.”
bridges here more than 60 years ago, and we have always had a strong relationship with ARDOT. It just seemed to us that it was time for us to have a full-time presence in a state that mattered to us.”
Finding Talented Engineers
The transportation category award on this night goes to Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company for work on the 30 Crossing rebuild in downtown Little Rock. The massive project came in under budget and ahead of schedule and resulted in traffic moving more smoothly throughout one of the most visible interchanges in the state.
Burns & McDonnell and ARDOT are also honored with the “Grand Conceptor” overall award for the 30 Crossing project.
Garver wins the Research and Consulting Award for the creation of an ARDOT Project Dashboard. This is a new online system that lets any driver anywhere in the state get a wealth of information regarding ARDOT work projects. It’s an innovative tool for drivers to be able to see how long they will be rerouting their morning drive to the office. Go to the ARDOT website and click on this new user-friendly tool that can give you a lot of information about every ARDOT project across the state.
The vibrant growth climate in the Arkansas infrastructure world that’s on display in the ACEC awards prompted HNTB to open a Little Rock office in 2021. After years of managing HNTB work at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, Dan Chapman came to Little Rock to run the operation. Chapman says, “HNTB had been designing major Arkansas bridges for ARDOT for decades. We were doing railroad
Angie Cooper is the Executive Director of ACEC Arkansas. Cooper says there is a lot of work available right now for Arkansas Engineering firms, but no matter the size or location of the firm, there is one issue that impacts everyone: “There hasn’t really been a slowdown in the availability of projects; there is plenty of work. The big issue for all of our members right now is workforce availability. Engineering firms are all competing for the young people who will be the next generation of leadership in all our member companies.”
Jerry Holder manages Garver’s relationships with 14 state departments of transportation across the region. He runs a large piece of Garver business, and after 40 years in engineering, he understands that finding the next generation of talent for the firm is a critical priority. Holder says, “We track and closely monitor the number of engineering interns we bring in for a summer. Then our goal is to have them back for a second internship. After that, we look at the number of interns we have been able to hire as fulltime employees. The days of not starting to build a relationship with a student until graduation season are long over. We want to build our relationship with the engineering students as early as possible.”
Holder says the starting salary for a newly graduated engineer joining his firm is $70,000. Infrastructure-related firms in Arkansas are creating thousands of jobs, and there is a compelling case to be made that the economic impact of this sector of the economy is as significant as any industry in the state.
Chapman agrees with Holder that hiring the right
“There hasn’t really been a slowdown in the availability of projects; there is plenty of work. The big issue for all of our members right now is workforce availability.”
Angie Cooper, Executive Director of ACEC Arkansas
30 Crossing came in under budget and on time.
Talent & Technology Drive AR Engineering
people is a priority issue for any engineering firm. Chapman remembers, “When I first came here, I went out to meet the University of Arkansas at Little Rock staff, and I was really impressed with the quality of the engineering program and the quality of the students who were there. The school requires 800 hours of work experience for its engineering students to graduate. We started hiring part-time interns from UALR who work and go to school at the same time. It was a great fit for HNTB.”
Changing Infrastructure Challenges
Cooper says the diversity of the firms and projects being celebrated on this night is also a subtle reminder that there was a time in Arkansas when community leaders thought of engineering as primarily related to roads, sidewalks, and bridges. Now ACEC is celebrating a stunning new medical school, a system to stop fighter jets as they touch the runway, and water treatment systems that are critical to communities with outdated water systems.
Cooper points out, “When it comes to these awards, the ACEC national system is used to define the categories. Every state participates. The categories are a reminder that a thriving engineering firm is involved in so much more than just transportation. Our members, and the work they do, represent all kinds of projects that make life better in hundreds of Arkansas cities and towns.”
What is apparent, looking at the cross-section of
engineering projects underway in Arkansas on any given day, is how rapidly the engineering world has evolved. In the early 1970s, Bob Crafton and Lem Tull found a local bank willing to lend them $100,000 to buy their first computer. It took three employees to manage the old punch card system on the computer, but it made their firm state-of-the-art at the time.
Matt Crafton chuckles a little 50 years later when he points out, “That computer was so ahead of its time, and so unique, that the University of Arkansas Engineering School would arrange field trips to actually bring students to see the computer.” It’s a long way from drones capturing aerial views of work sites now to be fed into engineering systems with astounding 3D capabilities.
Dan Chapman remembers his early days as an engineer in the 1980s. He spent a lot of time making blueprints with an ammonia machine that created the old-time, large blueprints. Chapman says his staff does technical work now that amazes him, and the future is exciting. “We are here today on the cusp of the new AI world. I don’t think it will replace engineers as much as it will vastly enhance what we can do for our clients. When I started in 1984, we had small computers with green screens. We have come a long way.”
Beauty and Functionality
One award from the night is a vivid reminder that engineering work can be practical and allow us to get
Congressman Steve Womack actively pushes for the road funding the state needs.
A beautiful new park in Fort Smith honored with ACEC award.
Talent & Technology Drive AR Engineering
water to the kitchen sink, or eliminate drainage on a roadway that makes a drive to the dentist’s office easier. But engineers are also capable of creating buildings and projects that are stunning in their beauty.
“We are ultimately building roads and amenities that will make it more likely our children and grandchildren will want to continue to live in Arkansas. All of this matters if we want it to be easier to see our kids.”
Martin and Martin Inc., working with Polk Stanley Architects, is honored for the stunning design of the new Alice Walton School of Medicine. Like the Crystal Bridges Museum, it is a structure that will have a profound long-term impact on the state of Arkansas. It will help address a shortage of physicians in some regions of the state, but it will also sit gleaming in the late afternoon sun as a reminder that engineers are at the very heart of the effort to make our state a better place for the next generation.
— Jerry Holder, Good Roads Executive Board Member
Over time, we have started to get accolades for quality work that changed a community. Now, we have to continue to urge all engineering firms to remind state and local leaders of the economic impact any given project is having. This is also a quality-of-life story. We are ultimately building roads and amenities that will make it more likely our children and grandchildren will want to continue to live in Arkansas. All of this matters if we want it to be easier to see our kids.”
Holder is a Good Roads Executive Board member who fully understands the need for engineering firms to be telling their story to community leaders, legislators, and decision makers. Holder says, “Engineers used to want to stay out of the limelight.
As Arkansas engineers use computer-driven, cloud-based design tools in the years ahead, they will also continue to think more in terms of sustainability and developing young talent. And the industry will continue to rethink how it can best tell a story of maximizing budget resources and making life better for any community. The future is now, and the jobs and growth we are creating every day are vital to the future of Arkansas.
Alice Walton Medical School in Bentonville is a stunning new addition to the NWA landscape.
Making Connections Possible
Wednesday-Friday, June 17-19, 2026
Wednesday-Friday, January 13-15, 2027
Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock
Construction Angels Offers Support to Families
By Deborah Horn
For Hannah Garison, reaching out to the family of a person injured or killed in a construction-related accident is more than a gesture — it’s personal. Her father was in construction, and she married an independent contractor, who also grew up in construction. When he and his best friend were on the job as teenagers, his best friend was electrocuted and died. It’s a pain her husband still feels. Whether building bridges, roads, homes, or high rises, Garison says, “It’s dangerous work, and anything can happen.” So, for her, joining Construction Angels (CA) was a natural fit. The Riggs CATLittle Rock Executive Support Manager now serves as one of seven Construction Angels in Arkansas.
The Non-profit
Construction Angels Inc. is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit that is now operating in Arkansas, and its mission is to support the families of fallen or critically injured construction workers, including providing immediate financial assistance and grief support to families of construction workers who have suffered a
fatality or permanent disability. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an estimated 7.2 million people work in the construction industry. OSHA reports there are more than 5,000 worksite deaths each year, with more than 20 percent happening in the construction industry. Construction and extraction workers experienced 1,032 fatalities, while there were about 844 fatal falls, slips, and trips, and grounds cleaning crews and maintenance worker fatalities totaled 356.
“There are approximately 3.5 construction workers killed every day in the United States,” Garison says. Construction Angels work to fill the gap in support for families immediately following a tragedy in the construction industry. The program also provides immediate financial assistance and grief counseling to the spouses and children of construction workers who have lost their lives on the job.
“It’s dangerous work, and anything can happen... There are approximately 3.5 construction workers killed every day in the United States.”
— Hannah Garison Riggs CAT-Little Rock Executive Support Manager
They provide $8,000 in Angel Support to the spouse and/or children, 19 years and younger; if a worker doesn’t have a spouse or children, they donate $3,000 for expenses; and they offer up to $1,000 in grief counseling to the family and/or company
Hannah Garison
Construction Angels
employees. Additionally, they offer scholarships to qualified applicants, as well as to the surviving children of fallen workers, who are furthering their careers in construction. Garison says, “We believe in the importance of promoting family values, job site safety, continued education, and the constant support of our industry.”
Getting Started
Construction Angels work to fill the gap in support for families immediately following a tragedy in the construction industry. The program also provides immediate financial assistance and grief counseling to the spouses and children of construction workers who have lost their lives on the job.
The organization was founded in 2011 by Kristi Ronyak, now its CEO and National Executive Director, who comes from an asphalt-paving background, and is headquartered in Lighthouse Point, Fla.
In a recent article for the National Association of Women in Construction, Ronyak discussed her reason for starting Construction Angels. In 2009, a local company experienced a fatality, and company officials were looking for assistance for the grieving family. Ronyak couldn’t find such a program, and friends told her, “‘Maybe you should start one.’ and I did. I did it because it was the right thing to do.”
Construction Angels Inc. was born and is now active in 32 states.
Last year, on the second of January, Garison went into the office as usual, and there was an email reminding her to renew her yearly National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) membership. She went to the NAWIC website to renew, and while there, she was asked if she wanted to donate to the Construction Angels.
“I did not donate, but I wanted to check into it, and that very day, an ARDOT worker was killed,” Garison says. It was 39-year-old Charles “Tony” Glover, who was killed while filling potholes on Ark. Hwy. 13 in Lonoke County. Garison adds, “I contacted Construction Angels the following day.”
She met Ronyak around that time
and says, “I immediately felt such a strong connection with her. I believe there is a reason God brought her into my life and vice versa.”
Garison didn’t just donate to CA but got involved and helped start Construction AngelsArkansas. They would donate to two families in 2025, including the Glovers, and later the Lawson family. James
“Keaton” Lawson, a 30-year-old utility worker from Bella Vista, died on November 10 after being struck by a vehicle while directing traffic on Arkansas Highway 340.
A Need for Participation
“Last year, I wanted to get exposure for the organization and recruit sponsors from Arkansas. I still need sponsors,” Garison says. So far, she has secured support from major partners, including Riggs CAT, the Arkansas Asphalt Pavement Association (AAPA), and Delta. Sponsorships are available at Angel, Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels.
George Cress, Riggs CAT President and CEO, and an Arkansas Good Roads Foundation Executive Board Member, joined Construction Angels, saying it fit into the company’s philosophy. His company takes safety seriously and adds, “We want to get our people home safely.” CA is like an extension of their
Construction Angels
Share It Forward programs. Cress says the company’s program, with a 97 percent employee participation rate in Little Rock, helps any employee who is dealing with a tragedy, adding, “We have to be our brother’s keeper.”
“Hannah is doing a great job, and we support her efforts with Construction Angels. We love it. It would be cool if the (construction and related businesses) industry
came together through Construction Angels to support the families touched by tragedy.”
Taking It to the Streets
When 23-year-old Ryan J. Moore of Heavener, Okla., was killed this year while working with heavy equipment, Garison took notice. It was a double blow, Garison says, “He had interned at Riggs CAT-Little Rock in 2021-2022. He was a young man. It was so sad, so tragic.”
CA-Arkansas is part of the national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that reaches out to families such as the Moore family by helping them emotionally and financially, but, Garison says, “That takes money.” So, this year, CA-Arkansas is actively seeking new sponsors and organizing the first Riggs CAT 5K Rock ’N Run at the Martin Marietta Hatton Quarry, 323 Polk County Rd. 15 at Cove. The money raised will remain in the state to help Arkansans. The family-friendly run is scheduled for Saturday, June 27. Registration is open from 6:30 to 7 a.m., with the race beginning at 7:30 a.m. Race packets will be available for pickup on Friday, June 26, at 5 p.m. at
George Cress
Construction Angels
The Ouachitas Coffee Bar and Tap Room, 821 Mena St., in Mena. There will be activities for the kids. Immediately following the race, there will be an After Party at The Ouachitas Coffee Bar and Tap Room.
Garison says, “We are modeling this off the Crusher 5K Run in Maryland, hosted by the Maryland Transportation Builders and Materials Association.” Their 2026 event, which features a unique course along the perimeter of a working rock quarry, is scheduled for its fourth annual run on Sunday, May
“The Crusher Run was started right around the time the Patapsco River, collapsed on March 26, 2024. Six people were killed,” Garison says. Last year, the run least 100 participants sign up for the event and grow it
every year thereafter. She suggests making a weekend out of it and says, “Mena is a great historic town, and the Ouachita National Forest is so scenic, and a great time of year to get out and enjoy the view. Everyone is
Garison started in the construction industry in 2008 as a credit account representative for the Keeling Company, headquartered in North Little Rock, and moved to Riggs CAT-Arkansas in 2022. However, her support of the construction industry goes beyond her job and her involvement with Construction Angels. She currently serves as the Women of Asphalt Arkansas (WofA AR) co-chair for 2025-26 and as the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Chapter of Greater Little Rock treasurer. She believes in empowering those around her and encouraging women to reach their full potential.
Hannah Garison is putting together the first Riggs Cat 5K Rock ’N Run 5K fundraiser at the Martin Marietta Hatton Quarry, 323 Polk County Rd. 15 at Cove. It will be Saturday, June 27. She says, “Everyone is welcome.”
Arkansas State Highway Commission
Philip Taldo Chairman
Keith Gibson Vice Chairman
Marie Holder Member
David Haak Member
Jerry Halsey Member
wwafcosteel.com
Arkansas Road Safety by The Numbers
Teenagers are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash when texting.
53% of teenagers who die in crashes nationally are not wearing seat belts.
23% of Arkansas traffic fatalities involve speeding or aggressive driving. There were 769 work zone crashes in Arkansas in 2015. The number rose to 1648 work zone crashes in 2024.
48% of the Arkansas work zone crashes in 2024 happened when workers were not present.
An ARDOT test of work zone safety cameras on Interstate 30 in Saline County in January 2025 showed cameras reduced work zone crashes by 38%.
Since the Slow Down Phone Down campaign started in Arkansas in 2021, work zone crashes dropped from 2500 crashes to 1500 in 2024.
Nationally, 24% of teens aged 15-18 who were involved in a fatal crash had been drinking.
we help build arkansas
Platinum Partners
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$5,000 and Over
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American Concrete Pavement Assoc. OK/AR
APAC-Tennessee
The Cashion Company
CPC Midsouth
David Haak
D.B. Hill, III
APAC-Central
Arkadelphia Alliance
Arkansas Concrete
Arkansas Farm Bureau
Ash Grove Cement
Bank of Delight
Bob Crafton
Clark Machinery
Commercial Bank - Monticello
Contractor’s Specialty Service Co.
Cowling Title
Curt Green & Co.
$2,500 and Over
Corporate Members
$1,000 and Over
Emery Sapp & Sons
First Community Bank of Batesville Fosgren, Inc.
Dermott Industrial Dev.
Duffield Gravel Company
Golden Triangle Economic Development
Jeffrey Sand Company
Jim Wooten
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Friends
$500 and Over
Jerry Holder
JoAnne Bush
Dumas Chamber of Commerce
Eagle Bank and Trust
FM Structural
Plastic Technology
Farmer Enterprises Inc .
Harold Beaver
Hines Trucking Inc.
Horatio State Bank
I-49 International Coalition
Jack Buffington
Jensen Construction Co.
Jonesboro Chamber of Comm.
LaCroix Optical Company
Larco, Inc.
Lawrence Co. Chamber of Comm.
M & T Paving and Construction
Maxwell Hardwood Flooring
Midwest Lime Company
Mobley General Contractors
Monticello Econ. Dev. Comm.
NEA Intermodal
McGeorge Contracting Co.
Natural State Consulting and Strategies
NWA Council
Riceland Foods
Rogers Group
Walmart
Ohlendorf Investment Co.
Paragould Regional Chamber
Philip Taldo
Pickering Firm
Razorback Concrete
Robert Moery
Ryburn Motor Company
Scott Equipment
SN Contractors
Springdale Chamber of Comm.
SW AR Plan & Dev. District
Good Roads works with our members to tell the story of the need for funding and financing to help all communities develop, build and maintain roads and bridges. This drives the local economy and makes the roads safer for all of us. We have corporate and individual membership rates available.
The award-winning Good Roads magazine reaches more than 1,200 key stakeholders. If you want to put your message in front of an elite audience of state legislators, mayors, county judges, Good Roads members, engineers and the companies that build roads and bridges, this is the best way to do it. This is the only in-state publication that offers you an easy way to reach this very specific audience.
Arkansas Good Roads Foundation goodroadsfoundation@gmail.com
479-426-5931 P.O. Box 25854 Little Rock, Arkansas 72221
Moving Arkansas forward
For more than a century, Garver has helped Arkansas build safer roads, stronger bridges, and better connections.
Working alongside state and local partners, our leaders like Adam Wierciak deliver solutions that keep communities moving and keep Arkansas open for opportunity.
Adam Wierciak, PE
Team Leader
ROADS LEAD TO WHAT’S IMPORTANT.
It’s not just about getting from Point A to Point B. It’s about having the freedom to get out there, live your life, and make memories happen.
At Ergon, we’re proud to deliver the right paving, preservation, and maintenance and solutions designed to keep your road networks safe and strong. Because you have places to go and people to see. Don’t let inferior road conditions get in the way of life’s adventures.