A project on U.S. 167 near Fordyce is a regional winner in the America’s Transportation Awards competition, the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department said in a news release.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials made the announcement recently. The purpose of the regional project was to widen approximately five miles of U.S. 167 just north of Fordyce from two lanes to a four-lane and five-lane divided roadway.
The widening project was awarded to McGeorge Contracting Co. Inc. of Pine Bluff for $33.4 million. It was completed Sept. 2, 2015. The final cost was $765,000 less than expected and was completed nearly two months ahead of schedule, the news release said.
“The America’s Transportation Awards competition was created by AASHTO in 2008 with the support of AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to demonstrate that state departments of transportation are delivering value for transportation dollars,” a spokesman said in the news release. “Projects nominated in this competition are making communities stronger, the economy more efficient, and quality of life better.”
F0rty states participated in the competition this year, nominating 84 projects in one of three categories: “Under Budget,” “Best Use of Innovation,” and “Quality of Life/Community Development.”
Arkansas’ winning project was in the “Under Budget – Medium” category.