Notice to Media

Open Forum Public Hearing Scheduled to Discuss Proposed U.S. Highway 71 Upgrading

May 9, 1997 -- The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department and the Texas Department of Transportation will hold four open forum public hearings beginning Monday, May 19 on the planned upgrading of U.S. Highway 71 from Texarkana to DeQueen, Arkansas.

The first hearing will be held on Monday, May 19, 1997 at Pleasant Grove High School Cafeteria, 5406 McKnight Road in Texarkana, Texas followed on Tuesday, May 20 at the C.D. Franks Intermediate School Cafeteria on Highway 32 West in Ashdown, Arkansas. The third hearing will be held Wednesday, May 21 at the North Heights Junior High Cafeteria at 2118 East 35th Street in Texarkana, Arkansas with the final hearing on Thursday, May 22 at the DeQueen High School Cafeteria at 1803 West Coulter Drive in DeQueen, Arkansas. Each of the hearings will be held between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

The public hearings are being held for the purpose of permitting all interested persons, agencies, and organizations the opportunity to express their views regarding the proposed location of a project to improve Highway 71 to Interstate standards from Texarkana to DeQueen, Arkansas. The total project length will be approximately 50 miles.

The open forum hearing format will allow concerned citizens the opportunity to attend any of the hearings between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Personnel will be on hand during those hours to explain the proposed project, answer questions, and take oral or written comments about the project.

Copies of the Draft Environmental Impact Study are available for public inspection and copying at the following locations:

Resident Engineer’s Office, Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, one-half mile south of Highway 71 on Highway 237, Texarkana, Arkansas;
District Engineer’s Office, Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, Highway 29 north of I-30, Hope, Arkansas;
Texas Department of Transportation Area Engineer’s Office, 520 Sowell Lane, Texarkana, Texas;
Texas Department of Transportation District Engineer’s Office, 701 East Main, Atlanta, Texas;
ARKTEX Council of Governments Office, 911 N. Bishop Road, Bldg. A, Wake Village, Texas;
Texarkana Public Library, 600 W. 3rd Street, Texarkana, Texas;
Texas A&M University Library, 2600 N. Robinson Road, Texarkana, Texas;
E. Hawkins and Associates, 4000 Arkansas Blvd., Texarkana, Arkansas;
Ashdown Public Library, 160 E. Commerce Street, Ashdown, Arkansas;
Foreman Public Library, City Park, Foreman, Arkansas;
Winthrop Public Library, Main Street, Winthrop, Arkansas;
Lockesburg Public Library, Lockesburg, Arkansas;
Horatio Public Library, Horatio, Arkansas; and
DeQueen Public Library, 200 West Stillwell, DeQueen, Arkansas.

Persons wishing to submit written statements or other exhibits in place of or in addition to oral or written statements made at the public hearing may submit them to the Public Affairs Office, Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, P. O. Box 2261, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-2261. Such submissions must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 20, 1997.

All interested persons will be heard at the public hearing. Copies of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement will be available for review at the hearing.

For Further Information Contact:

Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department
10324 Interstate 30, Little Rock, AR 72209
Tel: 501-569-2000
FAX: 501-569-2400
e-mail: