The North Arkansas East West Corridor Association has reached a milestone with authorization by the Arkansas State Highway Commission to update a U.S. Highway 412 study.
Gilbert Losurdo, Managing Director of the Corridor Association, says the action by the Highway Commission means the Arkansas Department of Transportation will begin an analysis of what is necessary in funding and operations to continue improving Highway 412 throughout northern Arkansas.
Losurdo says the Corridor Association is an ad hoc group of elected officials and civic leaders formed earlier this year to renew efforts for improvements to Highway 412 to spur economic development.
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Losurdo says there are approximately 252 road miles from east to west across northern Arkansas, with 140 miles still a two-lane highway.
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Losurdo says the action by the Arkansas Highway Commission is significant.
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Losurdo says the next step at the federal level is challenging because the infrastructure project is still somewhat in limbo. However, he says President Trump has noted rural infrastructure needs to be updated to advance economic development.
Losurdo says the Corridor Association needs support to move forward.
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Although Losurdo is a Baxter County resident, he says this effort is not a Baxter County project but a north Arkansas initiative.
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