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Road Work on Pig Trail ‘Almost Done’

1 min read

Historically dry weather in September has aided the timetable for repair work on the famed Pig Trail Scenic Byway in northwest Arkansas.

“It’s coming along great,” said Ralph Vines, president of Kesser International Inc. “We’re almost done. The weather has been of great assistance to us.”

The North Little Rock contractor will be laying asphalt this week on the rebuilt portion of Highway 23 in northern Franklin County.

Closed to traffic since June 16, the 700-foot section was damaged by a hill slide caused by extended wet weather.

Despite an abundance of “road closed ahead” signs, one 18-wheeler drove north from Interstate 40 onto the construction site last month.

Workers helped the tractor-trailer rig navigate through the work area. With no turnaround possible along the narrow mountain roadway, it was the only choice.

Rather than take advantage of the last turnaround spot, the driver must have moved a road-closed barricade with flashing red lights a mile south of the construction site to make his way north.

“We think there was a language barrier,” Vines said. “That is the conclusion we came up with.”

The $1.8 million project, which had a contract deadline of Oct. 30, is ahead of schedule. An early reopening is expected.

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