ArDOT Receives Build Grant for Overpass

BY DAVID NILLES

A$4 MILLION BUILD GRANT (BETTER UTILIZING INVESTMENTS TO LEVERAGE DEVELOPMENT) FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS BEEN AWARDED TO ArDOT TO PROVIDE FOR A RAILROAD OVERPASS AS PART OF A PROPOSED EXTENSION OF SCOGIN DRIVE IN MONTICELLO. The overpass is part of a project that will build a northsouth connector between the Highway 83 Spur and Highway 278. The connector will extend, on new location, south from Highway 278 to Scogin Drive and then along Scogin Drive to the Highway 83 Spur (Jordan Drive). The proposed project will alleviate congestion experienced on the west side of Monticello due to nearby facilities, including the Drew Memorial Hospital and the Southeast Arkansas Regional Intermodal Facility. It is hoped that the connector will also alleviate traffic on Highway 425, which runs parallel to the connector east of the project. City and County stakeholders in Monticello requested the addition of a railroad overpass as part of the connector. Concerns exist because of the interruption of north-south travel across town by the presence of trains. With the healthcare facilities located south of the railroad tracks, the multiple at-grade crossings can be blocked, resulting in delays to emergency services. The overpass will provide north-south travel with no delays. The proposed connector will consist of two twelve-foot travel lanes with eight-foot shoulders. With project completion, motorists will have access to the Health and Education Complex via the Highway 83 Spur and Scogin Drive. In addition, traffic could travel east on the Highway 83 Spur to Highway 425 to access the south side of the City. The advantages of the connector are many. It will create a safer and more efficient traffic system within the Health and Education Complex, will alleviate hazardous bottlenecks, will provide emergency vehicles a reliable and shorter route to health facilities and will be utilized by an estimated 3,400 vehicles daily. Safety on alternate north-south routes will be enhanced by reducing traffic congestion. The BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grant program provides a unique opportunity for the U.S. Department of Transportation to invest in road, rail, transit and port projects that promise to achieve national objectives. Previously known as Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER Discretionary Grants, Congress has dedicated nearly $7.9 billion for eleven rounds of National Infrastructure Investments to fund projects that have a significant local or regional impact. The Monticello BUILD grant will supplement local partnership funds provided by the City of Monticello and by Drew County. The City and County have committed to providing $4,900,000 for the project. Construction is slated to begin in late 2021. 