Emerson, officials look at project to increase Hwy 412 to 4 lanes

MoDOT official Eric Krapf, left, exlpains to U.S. Representative JoAnn Emerson, center, which portions of Highway 412 are recommended to begin the construction of a four-lane express way. Also pictured Cardwell Mayor John Prince, back row, left, and Arbyrd City Clerk, Erma Branum, back row, right. Staff photo by Joshua Payne

Emerson began the meeting explaining that she was "all ears" and that she wanted to hear everything that the attending individuals wanted to talk about.

Sue McGowan, a Paragould representative, noted that the Arkansas Highway 412 four-lane project had been completed from the Missouri state line through Paragould and approximately another 10 miles West of Paragould.

She added that Arkansas was currently working on a 412 by-pass project with a design being created.

"Anything that can be done to improve Highway 412 from here to the state line would benefit both places," McGowan said.

Emerson asked how much distance was left to be completed on Highway 412.

MoDOT representative, Mark Shelton, explained that approximately 18 miles, from Kennett to the Missouri and Arkansas state line, was left to be completed.

When asked about the cost of the project, Shelton noted that MoDOT believed that a project, making improvements through town and creating a four-lane down to the state line, would cost approximately $45 million.

He added that for the department to create a by-pass with the project would be an additional $10 to $12 million.

Shelton said that the figures were a rough estimate and were for a median divided express way. He noted that the City of Kennett also needed to decide on whether or not to create a by-pass with the project.

Mark Preyer noted that he believed that a lot of business owners would not like the by-pass because they believed it would by-pass their businesses.

He added that, as Jonesboro, Ark., and Paragould have completed their four-lane projects, the truck traffic has increased.

Preyer explained that he believed once the trucking business picks back up, the truck traffic increase will become "really noticeable."

"Our real issues will be getting these trucks through the Walmart and McDonald's intersections," Preyer said.

Emerson explained that she had talked with a cement company who was ready to begin work.

"They are so under sold on their cement that they are begging someone to offer them an opportunity to use their cement for paving services," Emerson said. "None of these guys have business."

Shelton noted that the current time was a "tremendous time to build projects."

Emerson explained that it was good that the Highway 412 project was an existing project because funds would be limited this year.

Shelton said that the officials needed to sit down and discuss what the city wanted to have completed in the project.

"I would agree that, if we do the project through town, you are going to come back and want the by-pass," Shelton said.

He added that, if the city came back after the completion of the project wanting to add the by-pass, it would be long time before the by-pass addition could be completed.

"Recognize that whatever we do is what we will have for a good long time," Shelton said.

Preyer asked Shelton how long it would take MoDOT to begin work on the project once the city has the funds.

Shelton said that MoDOT was looking at potential projects all across the district and that the Highway 412 project was one of them.

"When the funds are ready, we will have this project, the five mile improvement in Kennett, ready to begin," Shelton said.

Emerson said that she believed that the state would be able to build "more for less" at this current time.

She noted that she was going to put in a request for $4.1 million to complete the first portion of the project, which will be a five mile section of Highway 412 in the City of Kennett.

Shelton noted that, if the funds are received, MoDOT would be prepared to begin the first portion of the project within three months.