The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD), in conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration, has completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the extension of Highway 13 between Highway 267 and Highway 36 in White County.
The EA evaluated three alternatives, all of which would use combinations of existing highways, county roads and new location sections to connect Highway 13 from Highway 267 to Highway 36. The alternatives were presented at the location public hearing in Searcy on June 30, 2009.
After consideration of information contained in the EA and the comments received at the location public hearing, the AHTD has identified Alternative 2 as the preferred alternative. Alternative 2 extends north from the intersection of Highways 13 and 267 and then turns northeast, eventually following Honey Hill Road northward to Highway 36. This alternative consists of two different cross-sections, including rural and urban designs.
The rural design would have two 12-ft. (3.6 m) wide travel lanes with 8 ft. (2.4 m) wide shoulders, and would be built from Highway 267 to the intersection of Booth Road and Honey Hill Road.
The urban design would have two 14-ft. (4.2 m) wide travel lanes with curb and gutter and a sidewalk on the eastern side of the roadway, and would be built from the intersection of Booth Road and Honey Hill Road to Highway 36.
Extending Highway 13 meets the primary purpose and need of the project by improving the flow of traffic through the area, and will successfully carry the corridor’s projected traffic volumes for the next 20 years. This preferred alternative is the shortest, will have the lowest number of relocates, least wetland and floodplain impacts, and is projected to carry the same or more traffic than the other proposed alternatives, according to officials.
After further design and survey work is completed, a design public hearing will be held in Searcy to share details on the design and proposed right of way limits, and to receive additional public comment on the proposal.
