Independence County awarded state funding for unpaved road improvements

Independence County is among 12 counties across Arkansas awarded funding through the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Program, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Friday.

The county will receive $56,109 to improve drainage and road stability on 2,700 feet of gravel roadway.

Planned improvements on the projects include reshaping ditches, adding ditch checks to slow water flow, and installing seven cross pipes to reduce erosion and manage stormwater runoff. The project is part of a statewide initiative distributing more than $735,000 in state and federal funds to improve rural road infrastructure and protect water quality.

Independence County Judge Kevin Jeffery told White River Now Saturday morning that the grant will allow the county to implement erosion control measures on a county road.

“Today’s announcement guarantees hardworking Arkansans in rural communities throughout the Natural State will have access to safe and reliable roads,” Sanders said in a statement.

The Arkansas Unpaved Roads Program, established in 2015 and administered by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, works with county governments to upgrade unpaved roads and reduce sediment flowing into state waterways. The program receives $300,000 annually in state appropriations, supplemented by federal grants.

Other counties receiving funding include Benton, Calhoun, Dallas, Fulton, Hot Spring, Lawrence, Lincoln, Scott, Sebastian, Sevier, and Woodruff. Projects range from culvert replacements and roadbed elevation to erosion control and bridge improvements.

Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward praised the collaboration between state and local governments.

“Today’s announcement by Governor Sanders highlights the important partnership between state and county government and serves as a great example of what can be accomplished when multiple agencies and organizations work together for the benefit of our state,” Ward said.

Judge Rusty McMillon, president of the County Judges’ Association of Arkansas, said the program is a vital resource for counties struggling to maintain gravel roads, especially during periods of heavy rain.

“The state’s partnership with us through this program by providing best management practices for this type of work helps us improve certain areas of transportation infrastructure,” McMillon said. “This makes our driving surfaces safer and more reliable.”

Projects are reviewed and recommended by the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Technical Committee, which includes representatives from federal, state, and local agencies.