Two of the major streets in Pea Ridge are state highways - Arkansas Highway 94 and 72 - and are the responsibility of the Arkansas Highway Department.
John Johnson, area maintenance supervisor Arkansas Highway Road Department, said his crews have worked many extra hours clearing the roadways and have a large area to cover.
“We have to focus on the main roads - I-540 and U.S. Highway 62 - first and then go to the secondary roads,” Johnson said.
In Pea Ridge, the two highways enter from the south and west, intersect at the south four-way stop, then travel simultaneouslyalong North Curtis Avenue, before splitting again at the north four-way stop with State Hwy.
94 going west then north to Missouri and State Hwy. 72 going east to meet U.S. Hwy. 62 near the Pea Ridge National Military Park.
Pea Ridge Street Department is responsible for city streets. Street superintendent Nathan See said his crew has put in at least an additional week’s worth of hours since the sleet began Thursday.
See said the initial focus was on the main roads and the hills.
“One guy alone has put in an extra 26 hours,” See said. “We’ve got the grader out, we’ve got chains on the grader. We’re trying to clear up the subdivisions.”
“Tomorrow will be a good day,” See said Monday, referring to the forecast for Tuesday, “because it’s supposed to be sunny.
The ice is two inches thick in some spots.
“We have no sand left.
We have an order of salt coming from Little Rock,” See said Monday. “We really can’t do anything at night anymore because it freezes.
“Tra◊c is bittersweet, it helps, but sometimes you just wish it would get out of your way,” he said.
Hayden Road (Arkansas Highway 265) was still “a sheet of ice” Monday, See said, adding that it is thestate’s responsibility.
“The metal blades the state uses can’t even get it all o◊,” he said, adding that the city has rubber blades on one of the plows because of the manholes in the streets.
Even as he spoke, See said: “McNair is a sheet of ice; I’m sliding o◊.”
News, Pages 1 on 12/11/2013