Notice to Media

Commission Receives Construction Bids for Highway 71

LITTLE ROCK (8-22) – The Arkansas Highway Commission received bids today for more work on the U.S. Highway 71 Relocation Project (I-49) from Texarkana to Doddridge, according to Arkansas Highway Commissioner Prissy Hickerson of Texarkana.

“I am so pleased that we have awarded the final paving contracts for the section from Texarkana to Fouke, and the first contracts for construction from Fouke to Doddridge,” Hickerson said. “This 24 miles will take us as far as we can go without coordination with Louisiana,” she added.

Last year, Congress appropriated $93 million to be used on the Highway 71, or I-49, project from Texarkana southward. “The $93 million Congress committed to this project has enabled the Commission to move forward with construction on this highway more quickly,” Hickerson noted. “This proves once again that we stand ready to utilize our federal funds in an expeditious and efficient manner. If they send it, we will build.”

The Commission on Wednesday opened bids on the following five projects for Highway 71 from Texarkana to Doddridge in Miller County:

· The base and surfacing from Loop 245 southward for approximately 6.4 miles. The apparent low bidder was Angelo Iafrate Construction, Inc., of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Their bid was $26,983,902.61.

· Base and surfacing from Fouke northward for approximately 6.2 miles. Angelo Iafrate Construction, Inc., was also the low bidder on this project with a bid of $18,644,625.67.

· Grading and structures work from Fouke to the Sulphur River, a distance of approximately 7.4 miles. Cleve Batte Construction of Fouke was the apparent low bidder with a bid of $18,047,099.23.

· Construction of a bridge over the Sulphur River. The apparent low bidder was Jensen Construction of Des Moines, Iowa. Their bid was $4,341,478.20.

· Grading and structures work from the Sulphur River to Doddridge. Angelo Iafrate Construction was the low bidder with a bid of $15,853,322.71.

Work on the Loop 245 interchange has already been completed at a cost of $12.6 million. Grading and structures work is nearing completion from Loop 245 to Fouke at a cost of $32.3 million. “What this all means is that, with today’s contracts, we will be driving on the section from Texarkana to Fouke in about two years, and from Fouke to Doddridge in about five,” Hickerson stated.

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