AHTD to split cost on waterline relocation Decatur Branch bridge

DECATUR — The new Decatur Branch and Wolf Creek bridge projects are several steps closer, thanks to a little historical information that in the end will save the city of Decatur a lot of money on the Decatur Branch side of the project.

After a traffic survey of Arkansas 59 around the two bridges was completed in late June of 2019, the Arkansas Highway Transportation Department ruled that the two structures were in need of replacement. When the plans for the two new structures were drawn up, submitted and approved by the AHTD, several utility companies serving the Decatur area began the process of locating underground cables and gas lines. A week later the process of relocating underground cables and lines away from the new construction zones began.

During the September 2019 city council meeting, the question of the Decatur water lines that parallel the Decatur Branch bridge was brought up by Major Bob Tharp. The question was, who would foot the cost for replacing the waterline, the city or AHTD?

The AHTD contends that since the waterline was placed in its present location after Arkansas 59 was completed, the city will have to the foot the bill. Since no city records exist as to the dates this line was laid at this location, it looked as though the city would indeed have to pay for the relocation of this line.

In an effort to save the city money, Tharp set out to find any information pertaining to the dates that line was completed. With the help of the Decatur Historical Commission and Jeanelle Simpson with the city clerk’s office, Tharp began combing through old newspapers and old city council meeting notes for the answer to this question.

Then four Decatur historians and area residents found the information Tharp was looking for. Together, they found that the lines were in place just before the Arkansas 59 project was completed. Tharp presented his findings to the council during its Oct. 14 meeting.

Armed with this new information, Tharp made a trip to Little Rock Oct. 15 to plead the city’s case to the AHTD.

A week later, Tharp received word from the Arkansas Highway Transportation Department that it would split the cost of the waterline relocation. The exact amount of the split was not available at press time.

Once all the utilities are moved, the Decatur Branch and Wolf Creek bridge projects can begin as early as January of 2020.