AHTD IDENTIFIES PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE FOR HIGHWAY 167
LITTLE ROCK (12-15)
The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD), in conjunction
with the Federal Highway Administration, has completed an Environmental
Assessment (EA) for Highway 167 between Fordyce and Highway 273 in
The EA evaluated two alternatives - upgrading the highway entirely along
its existing location, and, upgrading the existing highway using a new location
section at the southern end of the project, known as Alternative One.
The location alternatives were presented at a Location and Design Public
Hearing in Fordyce on October 30, 2008.
After consideration of information contained in the EA and comments
received at the Public Hearing, the AHTD has determined that upgrading the
highway entirely along its existing location is the Preferred Alternative (see
map). This alternative will consist
of two different cross sections. From
Highway 79 in Fordyce to just north of County Road 136, the cross-section
would consist of four 12-foot wide travel lanes with an 11-foot wide paved
median and eight-foot wide shoulders. The cross-section from that point to
Highway 273 would consist of four 12-foot wide travel lanes separated by a
60-foot wide depressed median. The
travel lanes would have eight-foot wide outside shoulders and six-foot wide
inside shoulders.
Upgrading the highway on its existing location meets the primary purpose
and need of the project by improving safety and the flow of traffic through the
area, and will successfully carrying the corridor’s projected traffic volumes
for the next twenty years. This
Preferred Alternative received the highest number of supporting comments from
the public, has fewer wetland impacts and has the lowest estimated cost.
After comments from the Location and Design Public Hearing have been
addressed, the AHTD will request approval from the Federal Highway
Administration in order to proceed with implementation of the proposed Highway
167 improvements between Fordyce and Highway 273.
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