SPRINGDALE -- After decades of wishing, hoping, planning and hard work, the first section of the $100 million U.S. 412 Bypass around Springdale became more than a line on a map Wednesday when the first shovels full of dirt were turned just west of Interstate 49.
"It's kind of hard for me to believe it's under construction," said Mike Malone, CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Council. "It's going to transform the way people move around this region. This will be our first east-west interstate-type corridor and is gong to really help our east-west mobility."
Bobby Hopper, long-time former state highway commissioner, was among the dignitaries who shoveled dirt to mark the beginning of the project while a couple of bulldozers parked nearby provided a backdrop.
"It means a lot to see that it's gonna get done," Hopper said after the ceremony. "Northwest Arkansas deserves it."
Dick Trammel, chairman of the Highway Commission, credited Hopper.
"It takes a long time to get from dream to reality," Trammel said. "This is the visionary that made this possible."
The bypass is intended to relieve congestion through Springdale on Robinson and Sunset avenues, the city's main east-west route, which is designated U.S. 412. Traffic studies say about 25,000 vehicles a day travel the route, according to highway officials.
The new route runs from I-49 near the Wagon Wheel Road interchange east to Arkansas 112.
The divided highway will have 12 bridges and interchanges at Arkansas 112, just north of Marchant Road and Carrie Smith Road, and I-49 between Wagon Wheel Road and Arkansas 264. It includes the rerouting and replacement of side roads along the corridor, according to the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department.
Eutaw Construction Co. of Aberdeen, Miss., was the low bidder for the project at $100.6 million, the single largest road construction contract awarded by the Highway Commission.
"That's one of our top priority projects. It's been a high-priority project in our long-range plan for decades," said Jeff Hawkins, executive director of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission.
The project is expected to take about four years to complete and is being paid for with money from the 10-year, half-percent state sales tax approved by voters in November 2012. The link from Interstate 49 to Arkansas 112 is the only section of the planned route with funding.
"Without Issue 1, we would not be here today," Trammel said.
Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse said the project means a lot to Springdale, Lowell and all of Northwest Arkansas.
"Some day we will have the entire bypass built but I think starting this project is important to show people this is going to get done," Sprouse said.
For Lowell Mayor Eldon Long, the moment was bittersweet. Long started a business in the late 1970s on the land where the groundbreaking took place.
"We realize it's going to be a great project for Northwest Arkansas. Everyone is looking forward to the connectivity it's going to provide" to the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport and eastern Oklahoma," Long said. "It's going to open up a lot of new opportunities for development and commerce."
Scott Bennett, director of the Highway Department,said the project is a small part of some $750 million worth of projects either under way or coming up in Benton and Washington counties. He said many years ago, the bypass was planned for a different location.
"We once talked about it being on the other side of town where Don Tyson Parkway is now," Bennett said. "That didn't work out but I guess you got the best of both worlds."
U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Rogers, cited the importance of the project in a statement.
"This is one of the top priorities of the region and has been a goal to accomplish for decades. With the growth in Northwest Arkansas this project is necessary to help decrease traffic congestion," Boozman said. "I'm proud of the effort and countless hours that Arkansans have put in to make this a reality."
The section is the jumping off point for a proposed access road to the regional airport in Highfill.
Hawkins and airport Executive Director Scott Van Laningham said they hope now to be able to focus on that project.
"We're making sure we're ready and right behind them. We've got probably a year to buy right of way, do the environmental work, do the design work and be ready to start moving dirt," Van Laningham said. "It will improve access to the airport and make it easier to attract aviation-related development to the airport."
The access road is expected to be a restricted access highway about 4 miles long and connect where the bypass will intersect with Arkansas 112. The airport has about $14 million in federal money for the estimated $30 million project and is working to find the rest.
Ron Wood can be reached at email rwood@nwadg or on Twitter @NWARDW.
A Section on 04/16/2015