SPRINGDALE -- Regional planners voted Wednesday to partner with the state Highway Department and apply for a federal grant to complete a critical section of Arkansas 265 between Randall Wobbe Lane in Springdale and Arkansas 264 in Bethel Heights.
The request will be for $20 million from the Tiger VII Discretionary Grant Program administered by the Federal Highway Administration. The project cost estimate is $25 million.
The Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission has squirreled away some $3.7 million for the project that's still a line on a map. According to the grant application, the project would build 2.03 miles to connect improved sections of the road to the north and south.
Highway Commission chairman Dick Trammel said getting the grant would secure money for the final link between Huntsville Road in south Fayetteville and downtown Rogers.
"If we get this, 265 is funded fully for four or five lanes," Trammel said. The corridor has been designated as a pri0rity for years.
The most recent section to be widened to four lanes is the two miles from Joyce Boulevard north to the Fayetteville city limit. Drivers will have two lanes in either direction from Huntsville Road to Randall Wobbe Lane once that section of Crossover Road is complete later this summer.
"It's a project of regional significance to say the least," said Jeff Hawkins, executive director of the regional commission.
The commission is an eligible partner for the grant because it is the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the region.
Trammel also told planners the Highway Commission plans to meet Friday in Little Rock to discuss options for highway funding if the Federal Highway Trust Fund isn't extended after July 31.
Officials don't expect that outcome, but Trammel said, "This could be disastrous if this happens."
Trammel said state highway officials would like to see a a five to seven year extension of the federal highway bill rather than another short-term, continuing resolution, like the one passed last week.
The state has been pulling millions of dollars worth of projects because of uncertainty about the federal money.
"The lack of a multi-year highway bill is hurting out ability to bring projects to construction," said John McLarty, senior planner.
NW News on 05/28/2015