PEA RIDGE — Long flat stones nearly two feet long, neatly stacked, mortared with red clay, gave silent testimony to life decades ago.
Digging out old drainage culverts, construction crews unearthed several layers of road bed on North Davis Street.
Work began Monday to correct drainage problems on North Davis Street south of Patton Street. Locating - and avoiding damage to - overhead power lines, gas, electric, sewer and water lines, construction workers from Seven Valleys Construction worked with shovels and a backhoe. The city contracted with Seven Valleys Construction for the work.
A galvanized 60-inch pipe intersected with 48-inch galvanized pipe. There were concrete culverts and what appeared to be thevestiges of a low-water bridge.
As the dirt was removed, layers of roadbed were revealed. There was asphalt. Then dirt, more asphalt, concrete and then an old Macadam roadbed, according to M.J. Hensley, engineer, and member of the Planning Commission.
Hensley is donating his expertiseas he oversees the project.
There are two different types of concrete in the culverts several feet beneath the surface.
“It’s just like digging in an Egyptian tomb,” Hensley said, looking at the items unearthed as the backhoe pulled dirt out of the deep ditch.
Macadam (also known as Mc-Adam) is a type of road construction pioneered by Scotsman John Loudon McAdam about 1820, according to Wikipedia. It involves placing single-sized aggregate layers of stone with a coating of binder as a cementing agentand mixed in an open-structured macadam.
Hensley said a drop-inlet will be placed on the east side of the roadway to make that the low part of the road and collect the drainage.
“Drainage is the key,” Hensley said, explaining that controlling drainage is a major part of maintaining the integrity of roads.
“I hope the city can learn more about maintaining the infrastructure.”
“We’re sure learning a lot of this,” Larry Majors, street superintendent, said. “M.J. has beenteaching us a lot about drainages ... he’s been a great, great help to the city.”
Employees from the city Water and Street department are working together on the project.
Both McCulloch and Carr streets are ready for overlay now that drainage is finished there.
Davis will be resurfaced when drainage work is complete.
The entrance to Barris Lane will be closed for a couple of days while it is widened, according to Majors. Access to the street can be gained through an adjacent parking lot.
News, Pages 1 on 08/04/2010