FORT SMITH - A December meeting has been scheduled between officials with the Arkansas Department of Transportation, and recently hired consultants who are guiding them on how to build and fund a $380,000,000 bridge to take the future Interstate 49 over the Arkansas River.
According to ARDot District Engineer Chad Adams, the consultant working with the Department’s Transportation Planning and Policy Division is hosting a Public Officials Stakeholder Kick Off Meeting on Decemeber 5th, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Janet Huckabee Nature Center.
Adams says the meeting will be conducted in two segments: A Project Introduction and Overview, and the first Technical Work Group (TWG) meeting.
“The purpose of the TWG is to coordinate with resource and regulatory agencies to integrate agency goals and plans early in the process to help minimize or avoid impacts.” Adams told InsideFortSmith.Com on Tuesday. “The goal is to engage stakeholders early, and gather critical information and technical input throughout the planning process. The TWG will serve as the primary means of agency coordination for the project.”
ARDot Director Scott Bennett told local officials in August 2016 over the summer that a toll feasibility study would cost between $500,000 and $1,000,000. At a Western Arkansas Planning and Development meeting, Bennett said a public-private partnership combined with potential toll revenue could speed up the construction timeline on the project by several years.
