Future of I-30 widening project uncertain
The future of road construction on Interstate 30 is uncertain as negotiations begin between the contractor and the Arkansas Highway Commission.
On Tuesday, the Arkansas Department of Transportation made a recommendation to the Arkansas Highway Commission that Johnson Brothers, of Southland Holdings, be placed on a default of contract.
The construction company out of Roanoke, Texas, won a bid in December 2018 to widen I-30 between Highway 70 and Sevier Street in Benton. Although the projected completion date was November 2022, the plans were extended to due “unforeseen field conditions” in April 2023. Since then, Johnson Brothers has faced a daily penalty of $77,750. Their new projected date of completion is January 2025, adding up to a fine total of over $50 million.
In a statement to the Arkansas Highway Commission, ARDOT director Lorie Tudor stated that the decision was not an easy one to make.
“This is unprecedented territory for us, and it’s not something we arrived at lightly,” she said. “This is in the best interest of those who are affected daily by this work zone.”
Residents of Saline County have expressed their concerns over the past five years, with many citing failed tires and potential car accidents as an ongoing problem. Compounding the issue are the numerous lane closures that have occurred since construction began in May 2019.
“We do tires every day, almost all day,” said Logan Smith with Tire Town in Benton. “It’s every day that we have someone coming in that complains about the stretch toward Haskell or whatever, and needs to buy a new tire.”
Smith stated that the increase in tire sales has “definitely” grown since construction began, and said it was especially bad after the ice storm in January.
However, a representative from Newcomb Towing
in Benton sees things differently.
“The construction has slowed way down because they opened up so many new roadways,”
he said. “The blown tires aren’t really a concern right now.”
Dave Parker, who serves as public information officer for ARDOT, stated that they are “very aware” of the issues created by the prolonged construction.
“We understand all that everyone goes through,” he said. “There have been enough delays. We
are very aware of the public and understand the frustration very much.”
By the time construction is finished, the project, which bid at
$187 million, will have widened 5.5 miles of the freeway to six lanes; reconstructed three interchanges; and replaced five bridge structures. Johnson Brothers has time to consider the situation
and make a response to the Arkansas Highway Commission before final action is taken.
“Really what happens now is that there is a tenday waiting period where the contractor has time to respond to our recommendation,” Parker said. “The commission itself has ten days from that time to make a decision. We will probably resume
this discussion very early in March.”
Parker said that if the recommendation is approved, Johnson Brother’s assurity, Zurich, will take charge of finding a new contractor.
Representatives from Johnson Brothers or Southland Holdings did not return calls by press time.