Working long hours, Benton County Road Department employees are trying to get Guthrie and Miser roads improved before winter weather, according to Jeff Clark, administrator of public service (head of Road Dept.).
"We thought we'd have to close it two days, but my crew worked long hours and we were able to get it done in one day," Clark said. "I'm real proud of my crew."
County road crews have been working on county roads including Guthrie and Miser roads east of town and Looney Road northwest of town over the past few weeks.
"The main objective was to get them high and dry," Clark said, adding that he hopes to pave the roads as well if he receives the additional 5-feet of right of way requested from adjacent landowners.
"We need a 50-foot right of way. Right now, we have a 40-foot right of way," Clark said, adding that paving will depend on receiving the ROW and weather.
School buses travel the county roads and both Guthrie and Miser were subject to flooding, Clark said.
A pond on the south end of Miser Road "retains water and leaches against the road," Clark said, so a retaining wall was installed to prevent any future damage to the road. Two 72-inch culverts were placed beneath the roadway on Guthrie Road. Three pipes will be installed on Guthrie Road, Clark said.
"We raised the road bed up about 6 feet," he said, "to make sure we don't have that flooding again."
On Looney Road, Clark said there was a cooperative effort with both Bella Vista and Pea Ridge and the road was paved from Benton County 40 to Arkansas Highway 94. He anticipates the stripe and fog lines to be placed later this week.
General News on 10/07/2015