Bypass to carry Barnett’s name

SILOAM SPRINGS — U.S. Highway 412 in Siloam Springs will be named after State Rep. Jonathan Barnett (R-Siloam Springs).

Barnett was surprised and said that highway projects are often named after highway officials who have died.

“The Highway Commission named that without my knowledge,” Barnett said.

Arkansas Highway Commission on Jan. 6 approved to name Highway 412, between Highway 59 and the Oklahoma state line, Jonathan Barnett Highway.

Barnett was a member of the state Highway Commission, between January 1999 and January 2009, and was an advocate for improving Highway 412, the Jan. 6 minutes of the commission meeting show.

Dick Trammel, who succeededBarnett on the commission, said he approved the naming of the highway after Barnett.

It had been discussed for some time that the highway would be named after him, Trammel said.

The signs have already been made, Barnett said. “I’ve asked them not to put them up until the job’s finished.”

The $7.69 million project to widen the highway is set to be completed Nov. 2, 2012, said David Bushey, resident engineer for the state Highway Department. APAC, the general contractor, started work on the project Feb. 10, 2010.

“APAC is the contractor, and they always do a good job,” Trammel said. He’s had no complaints on the project.

The highway, between Washington Street and the state line, is being widened to six lanes.

“It’s going real good,” Bushey said. “We’re making good progress.”

As of Thursday, 51.7 percent of the project was completed.

The past weeks have been mostly sunny and dry, making for excellent road work weather.

But progress could be slowed, if the rain sets in, he said.

A chance of rain is predicted for Wednesday and Thursday, according to theNational Weather Service.

Friday through Monday are predicted to be sunny with high temperatures in the 70s.

Last week, crews started to lay asphalt for the third eastbound lane. Traffic was restricted to one eastbound lane while crews worked.

Curb, gutter and sidewalks are being installed along the north side of the highway.

New road work is being tied into existing road work.

Traffic signals are also being replaced to accommodate for three eastbound and westbound lanes oftraffic. Traffic signals at Carl and Holly streets have been installed and are being used, Bushey said.

Signals are mostly on timers, but some camera systems are functional, he said.