A long road to finish

It is becoming more and more frustrating to me why it takes so long to complete highway projects in Arkansas. In Columbia County, for instance, there is a three-mile stretch of U.S. 79 where they have been working on passing lanes for a year and a half so far. This is not a major upheaval on Interstate 430. This is a rural piece of highway between Stephens and McNeil.

I believe it would be nearly impossible to complete this project by its target date.

It has been so long since the contractor has done any significant work that grass is growing where they last applied dirt and rocks. There is one area where no shoulder exists, only a drop of nearly a foot, that has remained that way for more than a month.

The Arkansas State Police credit Columbia County with four highway fatalities so far this year. With the hazardous manner this construction site has been left in for an extended period of time, it is only a matter of time before an accident occurs there. I just hope that is not a school bus full of children.

It is time the state Highway and Transportation Department and the state Highway Commission take a long, hard look at the efficiency and effectiveness of the contractors that they award these projects to. These delays and stretching upgrades to the target date and well beyond should not be acceptable.

All Arkansans deserve better than what they are getting from this department, its commission, and many of its contractors.

DAVID HOLLY Waldo