Preferred Route Identified For Highway 412 In The Vicinity Of The Community Of Light
Information Release
Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department
NR 14-206
August 1, 2014
LITTLE ROCK (8-1) – The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) has identified a preferred alternative in the vicinity of Light for a Highway 412 widening project in Greene and Lawrence counties, according to AHTD officials.
Following a review of potential impacts to the community of Light, as well as comments received from a public meeting April 17 to discuss the project, the South Bypass Alternative has been identified as the best alternative. The South Bypass alignment has a lower potential for community and cultural resources impacts.
Three alternatives were analyzed in the vicinity of Light-a north bypass, a south bypass and a widening on existing alignment through the community. While the alternative to widen through Light also received public support, several factors made it a less beneficial option. AHTD determined that widening through Light would require a greater amount of residential and business relocations, necessitate higher utility relocations and costs, contribute to community disruption and increase safety issues. In addition, AHTD has plans to make Highway 412 into an improved high-priority corridor across the state, which could lead to an increase in heavy truck use of the corridor.
A second public meeting is expected to be held in the late fall to provide more detailed information and give area residents another opportunity to comment on the project. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2017.
The proposed project to widen approximately 14.5 miles of Highway 412 to four lanes extends from Highway 67 in Lawrence County to Highway 141 in Greene County. The project completes the highway's four-lane widening between Walnut Ridge and Paragould. The project is part of the Connecting Arkansas Program and is funded through a 10-year, half-cent sales tax to improve highway and infrastructure projects throughout the state. More information is available at ConnectingArkansasProgram.com.
Motorists should exercise caution when approaching and traveling through all highway work zones. Additional travel information can be found at IDriveArkansas.com or ArkansasHighways.com. You can also follow us on Twitter @AHTD.
