Arkansas Good Roads Magazine - Winter 2021 by Arkansas Good Roads

GOOD ROADS The Award-Winning Magazine of the Arkansas Good Roads Foundation

Foundation Good Roads. Good for All.

Winter 2021

25 Years of Planning Has Bella Vista Bypass Open

ROADS LEAD TO STRONGER COMMUNITY. A community’s roads connect us to jobs, healthcare, daily essentials, friends and family — and home. Ergon is proud to provide the materials and support needed to help build and maintain safe roadways across America, connecting us all to what matters most.

6 From the Executive Director 8 An Honor for the Commission Chairman 10 Troopers Utilizing New Vehicles 12 Clark Project Management Lab 16 AGRF Annual Meeting 21 Bella Vista Bypass Opens 26 Q & A: Jeff Johnson 30 Transportation Connections 33 In Plain Sight 34 Around Arkansas: Queen Wilhelmina State Park 36 Side Roads: Mountain Biking Shuttle Services 38 Back Talk 39 By the Numbers

Contents

Looking back at 2021.

Moore receives Distinguished Alumni Award for Public Service from OBU.

State Police using low-profile Chevrolet Tahoes to target aggressive drivers.

UA Little Rock facility renovated with help from the construction industry.

32 10

Governor urges members to protect the independence of the Highway Commission. Officials – including two governors – celebrate completion of project.

Salesman for Hugg & Hall on the roads and highways he travels.

Promotions and latest projects among AGRF member companies and organizations.

A log structure with a past at Mena.

Enjoy great views, a renovated lodge and a number of trails.

Taking the hassle out of loading and transporting bikes.

Officials on the importance of the Bella Vista Bypass completion.

Arkansas’ surface transportation system.

ON THE COVER: Officials, including the governors from both Arkansas and Missouri, Arkansas State Highway Commission members and ARDOT Director Lorie Tudor, at the ribbon cutting celebrating the completion of the Bella Vista Bypass. (ARDOT Photo by Rusty Hubbard)

Winter 2021 | Good Roads Foundation 3

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Executive Board

2021 EXECUTIVE BOARD Dan Flowers – North Little Rock President D.B. Hill, III – Little Rock Vice President Bob Crafton – Rogers Secretary/Treasurer Harold Beaver – Rogers JoAnne Bush – Lake Village Mark Hayes – Little Rock Lance Lamberth – Batesville Robert Moery – Little Rock Shannon Newton – Little Rock Chris Villines – Searcy Jim Wooten – Beebe

Dan Flowers President

D.B. Hill, III Vice President

Bob Crafton Secretary/Treasurer

Harold Beaver Rogers

JoAnne Bush Lake Village

Mark Hayes Little Rock

Lance Lamberth Batesville

Robert Moery Little Rock

Robert S. Moore, Jr. Arkansas City

Shannon Newton Little Rock

Chris Villines Little Rock

Jim Wooten Beebe

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.

(Non-Voting Member)

Joe Quinn, Executive Director goodroadsfoundation@gmail.com Bill Paddack, Editor wbp17@comcast.net Celia Blasier, Designer celia@bestmanagement.net

Winter 2021 | Good Roads Foundation 5

From the Executive Director

Keeping You Engaged and Informed By Joe Quinn, Executive Director

they know who we are and There are dozens of what we do. trade organizations and associations located in Revamped Meeting Little Rock. Around That’s why our members the state Capitol felt good about the Good neighborhood, you see Roads Annual Meeting on the offices tucked in Nov. 1 in Little Rock. We on side streets. Each tossed out the playbook organization has a we had always used for the different approach and meeting and put together business model. Some a larger and more visible are large, some small, policy discussion than we and some make you have ever tried before. We pause and think, “I had had Kiewit and HNTB no idea that group had a executives on hand to talk trade association.” about the work their teams Now in my fourth did to repair the I-40 bridge year, this job has taught at West Memphis in record me that before a trade time last summer. association is anything Joe Quinn addresses attendees at the Good Roads Annual We had a young else, it needs to be visible. Meeting. (Photo by Damen Washington) Arkansas-based company, It needs to be in the Roadway Management discussion. It needs to be Technologies, with us to show off a technology system engaged. It needs members who understand the need they are rolling out to help mayors and county judges for the association. A vibrant organization has to be understand in live time the changing road conditions more than members just talking to each other. I spent in their community. 13 years working in corporate affairs at Walmart and Gov. Asa Hutchinson made real news during the company worked on the assumption that if you are his speech as he urged Good Roads to be a voice in convening the policy discussion you are winning. support of the State Highway Commission remaining When I joined Good Roads to help with this work constitutionally independent as it has been for 50 in June of 2018, JoAnne Bush was coming on the years. Following his address Shannon Newton led the executive board as a new member. We were having Good Roads effort to formally thank the governor for a get-to-know each other phone call one day when always being willing to fully engage with the road she said, “Joe, you understand don’t you that a lot of and bridge community. The election is a year away, people don’t understand what Good Roads does?” I hung up realizing JoAnne had just given me a personal but you could feel a hint of nostalgia in the room as Governor Hutchinson wrapped up his remarks. mission statement. Work each day to try to make sure 6 Good Roads Foundation | Winter 2021

From the Executive Director Our old friend Randy Ort from ARDOT spoke to the group about the wide range of work being done right now in a way that makes roads safer and helps the economy in every county and community in Arkansas. And Good Roads Executive Board President Dan Flowers walked the membership through work done this year to modernize and update the Good Roads bylaws. That work better aligned the mission, bylaws, and what is expected at the annual meeting. Important Issues Ahead What’s clear now is that the road community is spending less time talking about funding needs, and more time talking thoughtfully about longterm projects that are possible because the budget is secured. But, while funding may be less of a worry, there are still multiple hot-button issues that impact everyone at the annual meeting. The infrastructure bill has finally passed, and we are learning more about how it will impact our members. At the same time the supply chain system that keeps America functioning is struggling to keep up with consumer demand.

These are not small issues and in the next couple of years the visibility of Good Roads will be important to give us the credibility to drive the transportation discussion in Arkansas.Visibility equals meaningful policy discussion equals positioning Good Roads to talk about issues in a way that helps our membership. This is fundamentally what we do with the dues you contribute to make all this happen. We continue to expand our communication tools to try to get more sophisticated in how we message. We continue to believe that if you pay dues you need to understand how we are using that revenue to make the work you do more visible. This is our last magazine issue of 2021 and I honestly find that hard to process. In some ways the pandemic slowed life to a crawl, and in other ways time seems to be passing faster than ever. I hope you have a blessed holiday season with people you love but come on back in January 2022 ready to remind the state what we do and why it matters. Drive safely…and put that phone down while you are driving.

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State Highway Commission

OBU Honors State Highway Commission Chairman ARKADELPHIA – Ouachita Baptist University honored Arkansas State Highway Commission Chairman Robert S. Moore, Jr., at a luncheon Aug. 31 on campus. University President Dr. Ben Sells welcomed attendees with remarks about Moore, followed by a presentation of the Ouachita Baptist University Distinguished Alumni Award for Public Service to the State of Arkansas. Moore graduated from OBU in 1966, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and served as a pilot in Vietnam. He is a former director of the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage

Control and former speaker of the state House of Representatives. “Chairman Moore is a visionary,” Arkansas Department of Transportation Director Lorie Tudor said. “He was Speaker of the House in 2012 when voters approved the temporary half-cent sales tax for the Connecting Arkansas Program, and last year, he was chairman of the Highway Commission when voters removed the word “temporary” and made this source of revenue permanent for state highways, county roads and city streets.” Moore has worked under six different governors, often crossing party lines for the benefit of Arkansans. “I look at moving forward,” Moore explained, “and continuing to work on tourism in the Delta, improving the infrastructure for the great people of the state of Arkansas and bringing opportunities to the people that we love and live with in this state. I want to be a better husband, a better friend, and I want to work harder in the fight against social injustice.” Moore will continue to serve on the Highway Commission until January 2023.

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TRASH FACTS Between Adopt-A-Highway volunteers and ARDOT maintenance forces, litter is picked up almost daily across Arkansas, but it’s not enough! Each year, 32 million pieces of litter are left along Arkansas’ 16,000 miles of highway—that’s 152 pieces of trash for every one person. In 2020, Adopt-A-Highway groups spent 1,700 hours and picked up more than 2,400 bags of trash. Additionally, ARDOT spends an average of $5 million annually to pick up litter.

GET INVOLVED Help keep Arkansas clean by recycling when you can and using a trash can when you can’t. For more information about our AdoptA-Highway program or the educational opportunities for Keep It Clean, Arkansas, contact the Public Information Office at info@ardot.gov. We can all do our part and Keep It Clean, Arkansas!

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UA Little Rock

UA Little Rock staff and construction management students participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony dedicating the Clark Project Management Lab. Clark Contractors sponsored the lab renovation along with help from several construction industry partners in Arkansas. (Photo by Ben Krain)

State-of-the-Art Lab

Construction industry rallies to renovate construction management learning facilities at UA Little Rock. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has unveiled a new state-of-the-art project management lab that will prepare construction management and civil engineering students for their future careers. “This gift has provided a state-of-the-art project management lab for teaching estimating, construction scheduling, project administration and other construction management topics,” said Dr. Hollis “Hank” Bray, chairman of the Department of Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering. “It showcases unique projects completed by Clark Contractors, which employs a number of our program alumni.” With generous support from Clark Contractors and industry partners, UA Little Rock’s new Clark Project Management Lab provides students the opportunity to gain access to a facility that reflects current industry technology. The lab is housed on the third floor of the Engineering, Technology and Applied Science Building at UA Little Rock. As one of the largest 10 Good Roads Foundation | Winter 2021

classrooms in the Department of Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering, the newly renovated and improved Clark Project Management Lab will provide students with space for active learning, engagement and collaboration. “The Clark PM Lab will help to prepare the next generation of construction management and engineering professionals so that they may be better equipped to embark upon careers in the construction industry and contribute to the built community,” Clark Contractors CEO William Clark said. Investing in Education The Clark Project Management Lab is a place for students to learn current practices and will help to fill a growing need for education in construction management and engineering in all phases. Renovations began in February and were completed this summer. The renovation of the Clark Project Management Lab is a community effort by many industry

UA Little Rock building process and finished projects that will serve professionals. The renovated lab was remodeled to as an inspiration for students. create an updated, improved learning environment. In addition to renovating the lab, Clark Contractors Clark Contractors provided construction management has provided a $50,000 and general contracting donation dispersed over services. They worked The Clark Project five years to maintain with Taggart Architects who provided design Management Lab is a place the equipment, software, furniture and supplies for assistance. for students to learn current the lab. “One of the best parts “Almost 40 percent of about a building project practices and will help salaried employees is getting to see people to fill a growing need for our are graduates from the interact with their new education in construction University of Little space,” said Shannon Rock,” Clark said. “Being Earls, president of Clark management and able to give back and Contractors. “We’re proud engineering in all phases. help further establish to be a part of that process the resources of the for the students in the Department of Construction Management and Civil Department of Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering is a dream come true for and Construction Engineering and to provide them us.” with a new platform for learning and engagement.” Students in the UA Little Rock Department of The people and businesses who helped complete Construction Management and Civil and Construction the renovation include: Meredith Davies, Brandon Engineering have a 100 percent employment rate upon Ruhl and Bill Gray of Taggart Architects; Anthony graduation. Brooks of Platinum Drywall; Jonathan Rogers of Arnold and Blevins; Eric Bailey of Bailey Paint; Kevin Perry of JCP Floorcovering Contractors; Dana Guess of PC Hardware; Sabrina Huddleston of DFI Architectural Signs; and Lucy Beth Owens of ImageWorks Commercial Interiors. “The importance of this lab and our contribution to the design goes well beyond the physical environment,” Ruhl, a designer and project architect at Taggart Architects, said. “Now, more than ever, it is extremely important to invest in the education and development of our future colleagues. Without talented and knowledgeable project managers, the demand for our services, cost for materials and labor, and inflation will continue to rise. It is our hope that our investment into the Clark PM Lab at UA Little Rock will contribute to a strengthened workforce in our architecture, engineering and construction community across the state of Arkansas.” Giving Back Renovations included removing the tiered seating, a new ceiling, paint, LED lights, low-profile power outlets, and lightweight tables and chairs. The final touch is a photo wall that features examples of the Winter 2021 | Good Roads Foundation 11

Arkansas State Police

New Low-Profile Patrols Target Aggressive Drivers A dangerous and escalating trend in the number of aggressive driving violations on the state’s highways has Arkansas State Troopers turning to an improved tool to curb the deadly threats. Twenty-five new low-profile highway patrol vehicles have been acquired by the Arkansas State Police to bolster the attack against incidents of aggressive and distracted driving. The black Chevrolet Tahoes are partially marked with the State Police insignia visible only from the passenger side, but are fully equipped to conduct traffic stops.

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“Putting State Troopers in non-conventional patrol vehicles to blend unnoticed in traffic is nothing new; we’ve been doing it more than 20 years,” said Colonel Bill Bryant, director of the Arkansas State Police. “What’s new today is the use of a taller vehicle platform like the Tahoe that will offer troopers an improved visual perspective to detect drivers violating distracted driving laws or spotting a vehicle being driven in an aggressive manner that threatens other motorists’ safety.”

Arkansas State Police During calendar year 2020 there were 641 Arkansas deaths resulting from motor vehicle crashes, a 27 percent increase over the previous year. The number of highway crash deaths has already surpassed 400 this year.

The black Chevrolet Tahoes and the equipment installed in them were purchased with federal grant money provided by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration.

National Epidemic Colonel Bryant testified before a General Assembly subcommittee this past summer that Arkansas has not escaped a national epidemic of lawlessness on the nation’s highways. He told the legislators, “... lawabiding Arkansas motorists are finding themselves confronted with new threats on the highways and more frequently than ever before.” Last year Arkansas troopers stopped 2,030 drivers who were traveling at 100 miles per hour, or faster, an increase of more than 100 percent from 2019 among violators exceeding the 100-miles-per-hour speed. By July 1, the three-digit speed violations in 2021 had already surpassed all last year with troopers issuing 2,381 tickets to violators between January-June this year for speeds between 100 to 160 miles per hour. Cumulatively from January to August of this year, State Troopers have issued 52,593 citations for various speeding and dangerous or aggressive driving type violations. The anomaly of faster speeding violations has been compounded by a brazen spike in incidences of drivers refusing to stop when State Troopers attempt to initiate traffic stops. Over the past five years troopers in Arkansas have documented a 98 percent increase in pursuits involving drivers who choose to flee rather than pull over for the initial violation. In the metropolitan Little Rock/Central Arkansas area, pursuits are up 170 percent since 2016. Winter 2021 | Good Roads Foundation 13

Arkansas State Police Colonel Bryant told The anomaly of faster age adults aren’t far behind,” commented Major Forrest legislators, “When a driver speeding violations Marks, commander of the makes the conscious choice to flee from law-enforcement, has been compounded State Police Highway Patrol Division, Western Region. they increase their speed, drive by a brazen spike in Troopers assigned to erratically, weave in and out of the low-profile patrols will traffic, passing other vehicles incidences of drivers additionally be watching on the highway shoulder; refusing to stop when for drivers who illegally use they’re putting innocent lives State Troopers attempt the left lane of a multi-lane at risk for no reason other highway. Arkansas law was than they refuse to stop for the to initiate traffic stops. amended this year to prohibit initial traffic violation.” drivers from using the left The danger on Arkansas lane of a multi-lane highway except when passing highways is not just limited to speeding violations other traffic. Presently troopers are issuing warnings and aggressive driving, but also incidents of gunfire to violators while drivers acclimate themselves to the directed at vehicles and occupants. change. In the coming days troopers will transition to As of Sept. 1, the State Police Criminal strict enforcement of the new law and begin issuing Investigation Division had 21 open cases under violator citations. investigation with at least two of the cases involving “Every highway patrol troop will have the lowthe deaths of three individuals. profile marked Tahoes and we hope the use of the special patrol vehicles throughout the state will be Distracted Driving a deterrent to the growing threat caused by drivers Distracted driving violations continue to pose a who choose to ignore the law and safety of others,” danger for motorists on state highways with troopers Major Jason Aaron, commander of the Highway Patrol already issuing more than 800 violator citations this Division, Eastern Region, said. “If a trooper can stop year. just one of these dangerous drivers before killing an Using a phone or other device to send text messages or post social media comments while driving innocent motorist, the new tool we have in our patrol fleet will have been worth it.” is one of the leading causes of distracted driving, and The recognizable white sedan with blue stripes it is a violation of Arkansas law. “Statistically, teenage and State Police markings will continue to be the drivers are the most common violators, but middlemainstay of the State Police highway patrol fleet with aerial observation from two aircraft flying in support over the highways. The low-profile vehicles will be assigned to each of the 12 highway patrol troops across the state. The new lowprofile patrol vehicles and law-enforcement equipment installed in the vehicles were purchased with federal grant money totaling $1.15 million provided by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration. 14 Good Roads Foundation | Winter 2021

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Winter 2021 | Good RoadsGarverUSA.com Foundation 15

Annual Meeting

AGRF board member Shannon Newton makes a special presentation to Gov. Asa Hutchinson. (Photos by Damen Washington)

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Annual Meeting

Annual

MEETING

PASSAGE OF THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL HAS HIGHWAY COMMUNITY OPTIMISTIC By Joe Quinn There was a certain nostalgic feel at the Good Roads Annual Meeting on Nov. 1 as Gov. Asa Hutchinson spoke. The governor has always been a friend to our members on the core issues that they care about the most. That was clear when he talked about the dedication of the new bypass at Bella Vista that has changed traffic patterns on the run from Missouri down into Arkansas. That ribboncutting ceremony attracted more than 600 people to a spot just a few miles from where the governor grew up. But there were other reasons for optimism as the annual meeting took place. The federal infrastructure bill has finally been passed by Congress after months of debate. That bill will mean $4 billion in revenue for Arkansas alone. For the road and bridge community in Arkansas the passage of Issue 1 in November of 2020, followed by the infrastructure bill

passage in the fall of 2021, has created a new and different world. Conversations about seeking state funding for specific projects are being replaced by conversations on how to prioritize road work when we know the revenue is available. The meeting was also a chance to put some technical presentations in front of more than 100 attendees. The Kiewit Corporation and HNTB Corporation had executives and speakers on hand to talk about the incredibly complex work they did to repair the I-40 bridge at West Memphis after a major crack was discovered on May 11. The audience paid close attention as engineers from these respected firms talked at length about the complexity of defining the pieces that needed to be replaced, getting the steel cut to make the repairs, and then getting the repairs done as teams worked around the clock. What came through clearly during the presentations was

that every company involved put aside any competitive business issues and took part in a daily conference call to talk about the work being done that day, and the larger repair strategy. Maybe fixing a massive bridge sounds fairly straightforward, but the technical presentations by these companies Candler McCollum, CEO, Roadway Management Technology

Winter 2021 | Good Roads Foundation 17

Annual Meeting were a reminder that each advocating All of us in the daily aforvoice day brought unfamiliar the independence infrastructure discussion of the State Highway problems that had to be worked around. need to be paying close Commission in the Collaborating closely years ahead. attention to how all of these with the team from The meeting ARDOT, the engineers wrapped up later in pieces fit together. involved found solutions the afternoon with a and traffic was rolling again by August. The meeting presentation from Candler McCollum of Roadway was a reminder that when the public and private Management Technology. His firm has built a crowdsectors really work together, it’s pretty remarkable source-based technology that will go a long way what can get done in an abbreviated time frame. toward helping county, city and state road officials The bridge issue put Arkansas at the center of the better define and locate work priorities. It was a national infrastructure discussion over the course of reminder that while the road funding outlook has the long hot summer, but now that the bill has been changed for all of us, technology is changing our signed into law, the state will be better equipped to world daily in ways we don’t think about enough. deal with complex repair work, and new construction Another key item driving member conversations for decades to come. at the annual meeting is the increasing national news With 6,711 miles of road considered to be in poor coverage about the problems facing the global supply condition, this matters more than ever. In the past 10 chain. As you read this, ships are stacked up on the years commute times in Arkansas have increased by West Coast waiting to get into California ports and 3% and each driver pays an average of $671 per year offload. From there trains and trucks will take the in costs related to traveling on rough roads. But it’s not products to Little Rock, Jonesboro and Gravette. But just road and bridge repair work that will be addressed right now the supply chain delays are significant and by the new federal revenue. There is funding in the bill troubling. for public transportation and electric vehicle charging From federal infrastructure funding to supplystations, as well as funding to upgrade airports and chain slowdowns, and from innovative technology to expand broadband in rural parts of the state. aging bridges, everything discussed at the Good Roads Against this changing backdrop, the meeting was Annual Meeting was a reminder that all of us in the a reminder that Good Roads works each month to daily infrastructure discussion need to be paying close change and adapt our strategies and messages to keep attention to how all of these pieces fit together. up with what is happening in the state and national transportation discussion. Good Roads Executive Board President Dan Flowers walked the audience through the work done by the board this year to update the organization bylaws and make the bylaws align better with day-to-day operating strategies. Good Roads Secretary/Treasurer Bob Crafton explained through a financial presentation that the number of new members we have is increasing, and the financial position of the organization is more secure than it has been in the past. ARDOT Deputy Director Randy Ort gave a detailed look at the range of strategies ARDOT uses on a daily basis to manage new projects and improve damaged roads. In his keynote remarks, HNTB Vice President Steven Hague talks about the complex work involved in getting the I-40 bridge at West Memphis reopened in Governor Hutchinson made it clear that he hopes record time. the Arkansas Good Roads Foundation will remain 18 Good Roads Foundation | Winter 2021

Annual Meeting

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.

Annual Meeting

AGRF Board President Dan Flowers thanks outgoing board members Clay McGeorge and Mark Lambert.

Dan Flowers speaks while ARDOT’s Randy Ort looks on.

Gard Wayt, executive director of the I-49 International Coalition.

Kenny Hall, executive vice president of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce.

AGRF Board President Dan Flowers, new board member Lance Lamberth, ARDOT Deputy Director & Chief Operating Officer Randy Ort, and AGRF Executive Director Joe Quinn.

Vice Chairman of the Arkansas Highway Commmision, Alec Farmer (far right), with ARDOT personnel.

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Annual Meeting

AGRF board members Mark Hayes and JoAnne Bush.

Members of the State Highway Commision, Marie Holder and Keith Gibson.

Clay McGeorge, AGRF outgoing board member.

Jerry Kelso of Crafton-Tull.

Outgoing board member Mark Lamberth with board members Bob Crafton and Vice President D.B. Hill, III.

Highway Commission Chairman Robert S. Moore, Jr., talks with AGRF board member Chris Villines.

Winter 2021 | Good Roads Foundation 21

Annual Meeting

Marie Holder, member of the Highway Commision, Bob Crafton and Jim Wooten, AGRF board members.

Steven Beam of Burns & McDonell and Harold Beaver, AGRF board member.

Highway Commissioner Alec Farmer and AGRF board member Robert Moery.

Highway Commission Chairman Robert S. Moore, Jr., with AGRF board member JoAnne Bush.

Chris Frieberg of the Kiewit Corporation talks about the engineering and construction teams that worked together seamlessly to repair the crack in the I-40 bridge.

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Photos by Damen Washington

Bella Vista Bypass

Bella Vista Bypass Dedication a Long Time Coming By Joe Quinn

There are moments when means increased cost, and it all comes together, and with consumers expecting on a fall morning in late seamless deliveries to September just north of their doorstep, the role Bella Vista it’s clear this is truckers play in the supply such a moment. After 25 chain is more important years of lobbying, planning, than ever. The bypass designing, funding and allowing truckers to avoid construction, the Bella Vista the awkward on and off Bypass is just a few hours at Bella Vista will save from being opened to traffic. drivers countless hours It’s hard to imagine a over the course of a year. more scenic location for Gov. Asa Hutchinson any stretch of new road in is grinning as he starts Arkansas. The highway is to speak. There is warm pristine and green fields applause when he points stretch in all directions. out he was raised just a It took six construction few miles from the spot phases and more than $220 where we are standing. million in funding to get A moment to remind all to this completion date of us that we are indeed that means the linkage of a small state, we tend 265 miles of continuous to know each other and The completion of the bypass provides drivers a four-lane interstate. we understand how the divided interstate highway from Fort Smith to Kansas City. It’s also clear this is not a (Photo by Joe Quinn) opening of a major new typical ribbon cutting. There road like this can mean are more than 600 people present from Missouri and safer roads, less traffic congestion and economic Arkansas including the Gravette cheerleading squad development. and an antique car club with dozens of vehicles. This The federal infrastructure bill will mean close to is an important milestone day for local leaders who $4 billion in road and bridge funding for Arkansas in have worked for more than two decades to get to this the coming years and will no doubt fund many major moment. The bypass means traffic from Kansas City projects. But the Bella Vista Bypass is a reminder that to Fort Smith on Interstate 49 will flow easier. And for it can be 25 years between the time the first dollar is Bella Vista it means vehicles will not be channeled approved to the moment when the first vehicles roll through the downtown area. over any new road or bridge. Traffic will be smoother for local motorists and The dedication of this bypass is a reminder that the for truck drivers hauling freight from Kansas City long wait is worth it in terms of convenience, safety through Arkansas. In the trucking world any delay and economic development. Winter 2021 | Good Roads Foundation 23

By the Numbers

BUILDING BETTER BUSINESSES COMMUNITIES AND ROADS

Advocate. Educate. Congregate. AGC Arkansas is the voice of the construction industry in our state. Through a full-time lobbying team, legislative committee and state agency liaison committees, we vigorously promote and protect the construction industries’ interests locally and nationally. The AGC Arkansas Highway Division, along with our membership of building, utility, and associate members, promote and pursue skill, integrity and responsibility with a keen focus on safety and training, all while growing the Arkansas economy.

“

what our members say

My family has been involved with AGC Arkansas for three generations. My great-uncle Gilbert served as President in 1956 and now I have had the privilege and honor to serve in 2021. Some of my earliest memories of this industry are attending AGC events and hearing from my dad and others the importance of AGC and the representation it provides to all of us. Now, No many years later I can tell you that he and the others were exactly correct. I strongly encourage you to join us and see ﬁrsthand what our organization can do for you.

”

- Steve Forsgren, President/CEO Forsgren, Inc.

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To Our Valued AGRF Members: Thank You!

Thanks for supporting us and helping us tell the story of why good roads and bridges matter. For membership information, please contact Joe Quinn at 479-426-5931. ACEC/A AGC Arkansas Alec Farmer APAC-Central, Inc. APAC-Tennessee, Inc. Arkadelphia Alliance Arkansas Asphalt Pavement Association Arkansas Concrete Arkansas Department of Transportation Arkansas Farm Bureau Arkansas Municipal League Arkansas Poultry Federation Arkansas Society of Professional Engineers Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce Arkansas Trucking Association Ash Grove Cement Company Association of Arkansas Counties/ County Judges Atlas Asphalt, Inc. (Jamestown Investments) B & F Engineering, Inc. Bank of Delight Bob Crafton Bobby Glover Burns & McDonnell Cashion Company Clark Machinery Company Commercial Bank - Monticello Contractor’s Specialty Service Company Cowling Title CPC Midsouth Crafton-Tull & Associates Crisp Contractors Curt Green & Company, LLC

D.B. Hill Contracting Dan Flowers Delta Asphalt Dermott Industrial Development Dumas Chamber of Commerce Eagle Bank and Trust Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce First Community Bank of Batesville FM Structural Plastic Technology Forsgren, Inc. Garver LLC Golden Triangle Economic Development Harold Beaver Hines Trucking Inc. HNTB Corporation Horatio State Bank Hudson, Cisne & Company Hutchens Construction Company I-49 International Coalition Jack Buffington Jeffrey Sand Company Jensen Construction Company Jim Wooten JoAnne Bush Johnnie Bolin Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce Kiewit Corporation Koss Construction Company LaCroix Optical Company Larco, Inc. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Lion Oil Company M & T Paving and Construction Co., Inc. Marie Holder Maxwell Hardwood Flooring

McGeorge Contracting Company, Inc. Michael Baker Int’l Midwest Lime Company Millar, Inc. Mobley General Contractors Monticello Economic Development Commission NE Ark. Regional Intermodal Facilities Authority NWA Council Ohlendorf Investment Company OK AR Chapter American Concrete Paragould Regional Chamber of Commerce Philip Taldo Razorback Concrete Company Riceland Foods, Inc. Riggs CAT Robert Moery Robert S. Moore, Jr. Rogers Group, Inc. Ronnie Duffield Gravel Company Ryburn Motor Company, Inc. Scott Equipment Springdale Chamber of Commerce SW AR Planning & Development District Tyson Foods, Inc. University of Arkansas Upper SW Regional Solid Waste Management District Walmart Weaver-Bailey Contractors, Inc. Western Arkansas Intermodal Authority

Winter 2021 | Good Roads Foundation 25

Q & A: Stanely Hill

Jeff Johnson enjoys calling on customers on behalf of Hugg & Hall and helping them select the right equipment for the job they are planning. (Photos by Bill Paddack)

26 Good Roads Foundation | Winter 2021

Q & A: Jeff Johnson

Hugg & Hall’s Jeff Johnson

Dealing With Customers & an Array of Arkansas Roads By Bill Paddack When he heads out from his home in west Little Rock, Jeff Johnson’s morning commute may take him to places like Benton, Hot Springs, Malvern or Sheridan. Or to the office of Hugg & Hall Equipment Company, where he handles outside rental sales in an area south and west of the capital city. Hugg & Hall, with headquarters in Little Rock and locations serving six states, is a leading supplier of material handling and construction equipment, providing products and services to meet the needs of industrial and construction markets. His job includes identifying and creating rental sales opportunities and providing customer support for the company’s rental department. It puts him behind the wheel of his white Hugg & Hall Toyota Tacoma a lot to visit with customers about their equipment needs, ranging from forklifts to mini-excavators to aerial lifts. Johnson, who has a marketing degree from UA Little Rock, figures he puts about 25,000 to 30,000 miles on his company truck each year. That’s a great deal of time on Arkansas’ streets, highways and bridges. On weekends, you just might find him on the road again since he and his wife, Mariette, enjoy going for drives in their bright red Nissan 370Z convertible, sometimes just for pleasure, sometimes to visit their daughters in Fayetteville. In the following Q & A, we asked him about his work, the roads he travels and the apps he uses to help him navigate and gauge traffic.

What do you like about your job in sales and customer service? Hugg & Hall is a great company to work for, and being in outside sales gives me a lot of freedom as to where I go each day. I like that I don’t have to be in an office all day long. I can be out and go visit my customers. I get to meet and know a lot of different people. I enjoy helping them and being a problem-solver for them when they’re trying to figure out something to use. Also, I like getting to see some of the new construction projects as they’re being built. Recent ones include the terrific new hotel at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs and the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in Little Rock. You travel a lot with your job. What are some highways you are on frequently and what are your thoughts of them? U.S. Highway 70 is awesome now that it’s been redone and widened. It’s a nice drive and it makes it quicker to get to Hot Springs. I use I-30 a lot, but I prefer to use Highway 5 or Highway 67 to Malvern. I prefer the highways to interstates. I’m just not a fan of interstates since there’s so much 18-wheeler traffic. I tend to take the roads that are a little more scenic. They’re making some improvements on 5, straightening some curves and fixing some bridges. That will make it an even better option. If I’m headed back to Little Rock on I-30, I’ll look on the Waze app and see if it’s backed up and Winter 2021 | Good Roads Foundation 27

Q & A: Jeff Johnson

“I prefer the highways to interstates. … I tend to take the roads that are a little more scenic.” – Jeff Johnson

Why do good roads matter and why should improving and investing in our infrastructure be a priority? Good roads are vital to industry and our economy. Industry shies away if there’s bad infrastructure. Some Mariette and Jeff Johnson, ready for an outing in their Nissan 370Z. companies that Arkansas has attracted if it would be better to go another way. It gets really recently wouldn’t have come to the state if we hadn’t congested through Benton because of the work that’s had a good interstate system and good roads and being done there. It can be a problem in 4 and 5 highways. o’clock traffic, especially if there are lane closures or there’s been a wreck. As you visit different cities in your sales area, are there some dairy bars, drive-ins or diners you recommend? A favorite is the Kream Kastle Drive Inn on U.S. 70 between Benton and Hot Springs. They have really good burgers and onion rings. What are your favorite roads in Arkansas to travel? Mariette and I like to take Highway 9 from Paron to Benton, and Highways 300 and 113 through Roland and Little Italy and Wye Mountain. We enjoy taking 113 and 60 to Conway, and we like to take Highways 10 and 9 to Morrilton and Petit Jean. When we’re not in a hurry to get to Fayetteville, we enjoying going on Arkansas Highway 23 – the Pig Trail – through the mountains. Another favorite ride is cutting across Eureka Springs to War Eagle and over to Bentonville on Highways 23 and 12. Any travel apps you use and recommend? I use Waze a lot and Google Maps. 28 Good Roads Foundation | Winter 2021

Roadway & Structures Site Prep Rock Excavation Overburden Removal

3592 Hwy 367 South Searcy, AR 72143 (501) 268-2359

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Join Us, Please! 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

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Transportation Connections

People, Projects, Promotions Garver Northwest Arkansas-based project engineers Brandon Durden, PE, and Chris Maestri, PE, were selected for this Brandon year’s class of the Durden, PE ACEC Arkansas Engineering Emerging Leaders Program. Over the course of the six-session program, the pair will join eight other Chris Maestri, PE Arkansas engineers in developing the necessary skill sets for future leadership opportunities. Durden, based in Garver’s Fayetteville office, first joined Garver’s Construction Services Team and is now a project engineer on the Transportation Team specializing in the design of bridges and other roadway structures. Maestri, based in Garver’s Rogers office, is a project engineer on Garver’s Aviation Team, working with airports across the state on design, evaluation and maintenance of airfield pavements.

Aaron Ratcliff

Aaron Ratcliff has been selected as the ARDOT shop supervisor in District 3. Hired by the department as a mechanic in 2007, he became a senior mechanic in 2008.

Tom Fisher has been named alternative project delivery manager at ARDOT. He has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University Tom Fisher of Arkansas at Fayetteville and is a registered professional engineer. Fisher worked for the department as an engineering student intern prior to being hired in 2002 to a full-time position as a civil engineer with the resident engineer office in Conway. Andrew Hoggard is the new ARDOT district engineer for District 2. He has a bachelor’s degree in engineering with an emphasis in civil engineering Andrew Hoggard from Arkansas State University and is a registered professional engineer. After working for the department as an intern, he was hired in 2007 as a civil engineer in El Dorado.

Scott Willis

Scott Willis has been named area maintenance supervisor in District 9 Boone County. He joined ARDOT in 2003 as a single axle truck driver.

Kevin White is now division head for the Right of Way Division at ARDOT. He has a master’s degree in transportation engineering and a Kevin White bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and is a registered professional engineer. After beginning his career with the department as a student intern, he was hired as a civil engineer in the North Little Rock Resident Engineer’s Office in 1997. He obtained his most recent position of alternative delivery project manager in 2017. Andrew Nanneman has been promoted by ARDOT to the position of staff maintenance engineer - traffic services in the Andrew Maintenance Nanneman Division. He has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and is a registered professional engineer. He began his career with the department in 2011 as an engineer in the Bridge Division and most recently served as a senior Heavy Bridge Maintenance Division engineer.

Transportation Connections is compiled by Good Roads Editor Bill Paddack. Possible items for inclusion can be sent to him at wbp17@comcast.net. 30 Good Roads Foundation | Winter 2021

Transportation Connections

Clint Wood inspects a post-earthquake embankment failure in Ecuador. With the NSF award, Wood plans to develop improved inversion schemes, complex algorithms used to determine shear wave velocity. The new schemes will facilitate more realistic subsurface models, which are critical to understanding earthquake-related phenomena. (Photo provided by University of Arkansas)

A $502,000 award from the National Science Foundation will deepen Clint Wood’s research on imaging techniques to Clint Wood improve the safety of buildings, bridges and roads, especially those in earthquake zones. Dr. Wood, an associate professor of civil engineering at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, is a geotechnical engineering specialist. His research focuses on characterizing the layering and engineering properties

of soil and rock formations. He uses seismometers to noninvasively measure low-intensity stress waves as they propagate through and interact with soil and rock beneath the surface. Measuring the frequency and wavelength of these stress waves enables Wood to create images of subsurface structures and estimate the shear wave velocity of soil and rock formations. This shear-wave velocity information helps seismologists and engineers understand and predict ground motions from earthquakes and helps architects and engineers design earthquake-resistant buildings, bridges and roads.

Earlier this year, a new alumni association was formed at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro – the College of Eric Farmer Engineering and Computer Sciences Alumni Academy. Among the charter members are four with direct connections to Garver: Aviation Bryan Melton Electrical Leader Eric Farmer, Facilities Design Project Manager Bryan Melton, Senior Aviation Project Manager Adam Roberson and Garver’s Adam Roberson former CAO, Bert Parker. Parker helped conceive the idea to launch the academy several years ago and then asked the other Garver charter Bert Parker members to help found this endeavor. The Academy is intended to provide a platform both to celebrate the members’ accomplishments and to provide role models for current students and junior alumni. The inaugural 30-member class was inducted during a banquet at ASU in July. Both Parker and Melton were elected to serve on the Academy’s Executive Committee, and both Parker and Farmer were elected to serve on the Academy’s Board of Directors.

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Transportation Connections

Why Should You Join the AAPA?

Networking Advocacy Resources Information Safety Contact AAPA at: office@arasphalt.com (501) 219-1100 32 Good Roads Foundation

| Winter 2021

Education Representation Partnership Unity And more! More information at: www.arasphalt.com Summer 2019 | Good Roads Foundation

In Plain Sight

Around Arkansas

THE SCENE: Janssen Park, a 10-acre community park. WHERE: Off 7th Street in Mena in western Arkansas. THE CABIN: The 1851 log structure is rumored to have been utilized as a hideout for the notorious outlaw Jesse James. Over the years, it has been used as a home, a hospital, an inn, a clubhouse, a post office and city hall. The park and the one-room cabin are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Photo by Bill Paddack)

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Around Arkansas

AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN

Situated atop Rich Mountain – Arkansas’ second highest peak – Queen Wilhelmina State Park in extreme western Arkansas offers spectacular scenery, a modern, 40-room lodge with a stuffed black bear to greet you, a restaurant featuring excellent Southern favorites, a conference room for meetings, 41 camp sites and a number of trails for hiking. And on mornings when the mountain is literally in the clouds, visitors can enjoy the cool, almost otherworldly experience of walking around the lodge in the mists. Mena is nearby, and the Talimena National Scenic Byway (a 54-mile stretch of Arkansas Highway 88 and Oklahoma State Highway 1) provides even more magnificent views. (Photos by Bill Paddack)

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Around Arkansas

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Side Roads

Shore Line Shuttle at Bentonville uses an ex-military troop carrier to shuttle mountain bikers. (Arkansas Parks & Tourism Photo)

Shuttles Take the Hassle Out of Mountain Biking Logistics Both locals and out-of-towners can benefit from taking a shuttle to mountain bike trails. Parking at some of Arkansas’ most popular trailheads can be crowded. Shuttle services take the hassle out of the logistics of loading bikes, transporting them and finding a place to park. That’s especially helpful to tourists that don’t know the area well. Some services pick you up at your home or hotel. Others will help transport you between trail systems or pick you up at the bottom of a downhill and take you back to the top so you can do it all over again. Shuttles with trail guide service are available as well. All of these options are a great way to maximize your riding time and your experience on the trails.

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Here’s a list of shuttle services in Arkansas: Adventure Mountain Outfitters, Eureka Springs – Runs shuttles for the Lake Leatherwood trails including the incredible downhills. Bike rentals are also available. BOC Downhill Shuttle, Ponca – The area features some of the longest downhill trails in Arkansas and Buffalo Outdoor Center shuttles you to the top of this network of gravity lines that can be strung together into six-mile-long runs with as much as 1,300 feet of descending. BOC offers hiking shuttles, too. Eureka Springs Parks & Recreation Department, Eureka Springs – Offers half-day and full-day shuttle passes for the Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project trails.

Side Roads Mount Nebo MTB Transit – Serves the Hayes Creek Downhill Line at Mount Nebo State Park (Monument Trail). Ouachita River Haven, Pencil Bluff – Located near three IMBA Epic Trails: Womble, Lake Ouachita Vista Trail and the Ouachita Trail; plus, an abundance of other great mountain bike trails in the area. They also shuttle for hiking/backpacking and boating/tubing. Ozark Bike Guides, Northwest Arkansas – Guided downhill shuttle tours, guided Bentonville bike tours and mountain bike skills lessons. River Mountain Park Shuttle, The Buffalo Outdoor Center at Ponca can shuttle riders to some of the longest Little Rock – Shuttle bicycle and rider downhill trails in the state. (Arkansas Parks & Tourism Photo) from bottom of River Mountain Park Trail system to the top, creating low-impact, highShuttle Hound, Northwest Arkansas – Picks you energy rides that can last all day. Rock Town River up from where you want and drops you off where you Outfitters handles the shuttles. want, whether it is where you live/stay, a trailhead or Shore Line Shuttle, Bentonville – Picks bikers on the side of the road near the trail. up at Slaughter Pen and transports them to Coler Slaughter Trail Guides, Northwest Arkansas – Mountain Bike Preserve, then picks them back up and Offers full-day shuttles or shuttles with guides to ride returns them to Slaughter Pen. Shuttle is via an exthe downhills of Eureka Springs as well as shuttle military M1078 troop carrier with 46-inch-tall tires tours with guides on trails throughout Northwest and bikes mounted along the back. Arkansas.

928 Airport Road Hot Springs, AR 71913 Phone: 501-767-2366 Fax: 501-767-6859 E-mail:info@bnfeng.com Website: www.bnfeng.com AN ARKANSAS FIRM PROVIDING QUALITY CIVIL/STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND SURVEYING SERVICES SINCE 1972 Winter 2021 | Good Roads Foundation 37

By the Numbers

Traffic on U.S. Highway 167 between Bald Knob and Batesville on a beautiful day in October. Investing in our transportation system generates jobs, fosters economic recovery and growth, and improves safety. (Photo by Bill Paddack)

Arkansas’ Surface Transportation System 37.1B Miles 38% Roads and highways are the backbone of our economy, allowing Arkansas motorists to travel 37.1 billion miles annually and moving a significant portion of the $226 billion worth of commodities shipped to and from the state each year. But, conditions on the system are deteriorating, as the need for transportation improvements far outpaces the amount of state and federal funding available.

57%

Percentage of Arkansas’ major roads that are in poor or mediocre condition.

Percentage of the state’s bridges that are at least 50 years old, an age when many bridges require significant rehabilitation or replacement.

27%

Since 2000, vehicle travel on Arkansas’ roads increased 27% and the state’s population increased 13%.

Percentage of Arkansas’ bridges that are rated in poor/ structurally deficient condition, meaning there is significant deterioration to the major components of the bridge.

Statistics are from a 2021 report by TRIP, a nonprofit national transportation research organization. 38 Good Roads Foundation | Winter 2021

I-49 Missouri-Arkansas Connector With completion of the Bella Vista Bypass project, drivers can now travel the 290 miles between Kansas City and Fort Smith on a new four-lane divided interstate highway.

“When you look at going from Joplin to Bentonville, the clog has been Bella Vista. The biggest issue is that during rush hour, it can slow you down anywhere from five to 30 minutes depending on the traffic. So this solves two problems now. It’s going to be a shorter distance, shorter time, but the variable of the traffic is going to be removed, so now as a commuter, you can get in your car and you know you’re exactly 55 minutes door to door, and it’s going to be consistent because you’re going to hop on the interstate and come off the interstate.” – Toby Teeter, former director of the Joplin Chamber of Commerce who recently moved to Bentonville and works for the University of Arkansas.

“It’s not every day we get the opportunity to celebrate the opening of a project at a state line with our neighboring states. That’s a very rare opportunity, but even more rare is opening an interstate at the state line.” – ARDOT Director Lorie Tudor

Back Talk

“This highway, yes, it’s going to be a lot safer, yes, it’s going to be more convenient, but I guarantee you it will also drive the economy of both of our states because it will be an opportunity, and for some of you who will be around to see it, you will see businesses follow this interstate. They always do, they always will, and it’s going to be a great opportunity for both of our states.” – Missouri Gov. Mike Parson

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Arkansas Good Roads Foundation P.O. Box 25854 Little Rock, Arkansas 72221

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