AAC
In January 2016, the CJAA engaged the services of an ex- perienced civil engineer, Tom Black, P.E. Black has conduct- ed an analysis and report of the annual funding needs for the county roads and bridges statewide. A copy of Black’s report, “County Road Needs Report,” is posted on the AAC web site at
www.arcounties.org/site/assets/files/4405/aacreport_1.pdf. During the past two years the CJAA has received periodic
preliminary reports and updates in data, analysis and conclu- sions on these matters. Te report of Black was produced with the efforts and support of: Michael Morgan of Greenberg- Farrow; Dr. Stacy Williams with the University of Arkansas, Department of Civil Engineering; Darryl Gardner with Ergon Asphalt and Emulsions, Inc.; Shelby Johnson and Jonathan Duran with State Geographic Information System (GIS); and the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT). Recent enhancements in mapping data have proven help- ful. Te recent Map- 21 project (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act adopted by Congress and signed into law in 2012) was recently completed. Te result is greatly enhanced mapping informa- tion, including data on tens of thousands of miles of roads throughout Arkansas. According to the data from the Map 21 project and other sources and the calcula- tions of GIS there are approximately 50,000 miles of county- maintained roads in Arkansas. Te estimated breakdown statewide is approximately 33,828 miles of unpaved county roads and approximately 15,921 miles of paved county roads. To provide perspective, the estimates of city streets statewide in Arkansas are approximately 15,518 miles. Te most recent estimates of total state highway, U.S. highway and interstate miles in Arkansas is approximately 16,418 miles. Te report estimates the total annual cost of maintaining the 49,749 miles of county road at $197,743,406. Te annual cost of maintaining the 15,921 miles of paved county roads is estimated at $95,922,069. Te annual cost of maintaining the 33,828 miles of unpaved county roads is $101,821,327 ($2,564.35 per mile). Tis information expresses the mag- nitude of the level of funding necessary to maintain what we have. Te report is well supported. Citizens, businesses, industry, farmers and tourists that use county roads for their personal travel or for taking farm products or livestock to mar-
T COUNTY LINES, SUMMER 2018
RESEARCH CORNER
he constituents will support revenue increases for roads and bridges. Te citizenry traditionally
supports directing revenue to necessary tangible improve- ments such as roads and bridges. Citizens see first hand the deterioration of infrastructure.
ket will readily support revenues under the 70-15-15 split that will go for maintenance and improvement of county roads. Black’s preliminary report over the past two years and his final report have increased awareness of the needs state- wide for the state, county and city bridges. Te summary of the condition of bridges throughout the state is as follows: Tere are 12,669 Bridges 20 feet long or longer in Arkansas. Te state has 7,346 bridges (58 percent) of the total — 16 percent, or 1,196, of those are Structurally Deficient (SD) or Functionally Obsolete (FO). FO bridges are those that do not have adequate lane widths, shoulder widths, or vertical clearances to serve current traffic, or those that may flood. SD bridges are those that have been restricted to light weight vehicles, closed to traffic or require rehabilitation. Te ArDOT is forever vigilant in apprising and updating on the conditions of the thousands of miles of interstates, U.S. and state highways. Te U.S. Department of Transportation requires assessment of roadway conditions, traffic accidents or collision statistics, and bridge inspections. Counties and cit- ies benefit from the bridge inspection reports required by the U.S. Department of Transportation and
conducted and provided by ArDOT. Counties have 4,297 bridges (34 percent) of the total — 27 percent, or 1,174, are SD or FO. Cities have 1,026 bridges, 8 percent, of the total — 22 percent, or 221, are SD or FO. Te report reflects there are 505, or 43 percent, of the 1,174 FO and SD bridges that are weight restricted below 15 tons, the weight below a loaded full-size school bus. Tis means 12 percent of the 4,307 county bridges have a weight limit less than the weight of a loaded school bus. Te estimated cost of replacing the 812 FO county road bridges is $332,385,847. Te cost of replacing the 362 SD county road bridges is 158,841,376. Te estimate of the total cost of replacing all of the county road bridges that are FO and SD is $491,227,223. Te “County Roads Needs Report” is extremely infor-
mative and will significantly assist our county officials in expressing the annual maintenance needs to the citizens.
See “ROADS” on Page 14 >>> 13
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