31 replies to this topic

[Mith242]

I see, it's ironic that a while back ago Tyson tried getting Afro-Americans from southern Arkansas to come help fill factory jobs in northwest Arkansas because there just wasn't enough people to fill all the growth going on.  Tyson had very little luck, I think few Afro-Americans were willing to come because they had negative images of northwest Arkansas being the typical 'Ozark' mentality.  So eventually Tyson went after the hispanic community and I think most people in this area what happened there.  It's sorta funny because now there seems to be more Afro-Americans coming into northwest Arkansas (or Fayetteville at least) and many seem surprised how nice it is and how there hasn't been the anticipated racism they thought would occur.  I've even had some coworkers comment how they were surprised how 'open' northwest Arkansas seems to be overall.  Northwest Arkansas may not have the 'big city' mentalility but we're not as backwards as some people think we are.  

[sleepy]

I don't think it's a matter of being "backward" in any stereotyped sense.  I live in Minnesota, a supposedly progressive state, and many of the people I know would experience culture shock in being around a predominantly black culture like in Memphis or the Delta.

And as few blacks as there were/are in NWA, I can imagine that there always have been more than in small town Minnesota.

[Mith242]

Yeah I see your point.  I can also understand your frustration about people's attitudes about Memphis.  Memphis does seem to be one of those cities that either people really like or either really don't like.  I haven't been to Memphis since I was pretty young, so I can't say that I can make any personal judgements about Memphis.

[Mith242]

As far as other projects go I keep hearing about a Hwy 412 bypass around the northern edge of Springdale.  Tyson and Wal-mart generate a lot of truck traffic here in northwest Arkansas and an additional east-west expressway would be very nice.  But knowing how Arkansas road projects go who knows when it will actually happen.

[sleepy]

Mith242, on Jul 9 2005, 05:06 PM, said:

As far as other projects go I keep hearing about a Hwy 412 bypass around the northern edge of Springdale.  Tyson and Wal-mart generate a lot of truck traffic here in northwest Arkansas and an additional east-west expressway would be very nice.  But knowing how Arkansas road projects go who knows when it will actually happen.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Arkansas in general has a lot of truck traffic which beats up its roads pretty bad.

Was work on I-40 between Little Rock and Memphis ever finished?  That thing needs to be six-laned instead of four.

Also, does anyone know when the state will get around to repaving I-55?  You know it's bad when 90% of the traffic gets in the left lane to save their suspension systems.  

[johnnydr87]

sleepy, on Jul 9 2005, 05:39 PM, said:

Arkansas in general has a lot of truck traffic which beats up its roads pretty bad.

Was work on I-40 between Little Rock and Memphis ever finished?  That thing needs to be six-laned instead of four.

Also, does anyone know when the state will get around to repaving I-55?  You know it's bad when 90% of the traffic gets in the left lane to save their suspension systems.   

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

LOL.  As far as I know most of West Memphis has been repaved.  I remember going through it and it reminded me of a quilt with all of its patches.  I haven't been up on I-55 for a few years, so it may or may not be better....but for some reason i don't remember it being particularly bad when i went through...

[Mith242]

sleepy, on Jul 9 2005, 06:39 PM, said:

Arkansas in general has a lot of truck traffic which beats up its roads pretty bad.

Was work on I-40 between Little Rock and Memphis ever finished?  That thing needs to be six-laned instead of four.

Also, does anyone know when the state will get around to repaving I-55?  You know it's bad when 90% of the traffic gets in the left lane to save their suspension systems.   

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well for a while that pretty much applied to every interstate in Arkansas except maybe I-540 because it's relatively new.  I know they finished all the work on I-40 between Ft Smith to Conway.  Except for some work that's not really related to I-40.  I don't know about the Little Rock to Memphis section.  Although I am almost positive it won't be 6 lanes.  If they didn't do 6 lanes between Conway and Little Rock I don't see them doing it  over there.  I think I-30 and I-55 were a little further down on the lists, I don't really travel on them so I'm not sure what they've done of those two.

[sleepy]

I was on I-55 last month and it was the same as it was 5 years ago--actually it was terrible, another five years of truck pounding.

I wasn't serious about I-40 being six-laned.  It's just that anytime I drive from Memphis to Forrest City which is only once a year--it's virtually bumper to bumper trucks whizzing by which I assume carries over into Little Rock.

[skirby]

Searcy, AR. Because of the Fayetteville Shale BJ Services is locating a regional office in Searcy. Total investment will be over $82 million. This includes land, buildings and equipment.

[hogwash]

I know I'm immature, but I can't help but chuckle everytime someone mentions that company going into Searcy.

[cmatthews40510]

From today's Dem Gaz:

Quote

LITTLE ROCK — Dear Mahatma: Is the section of Interstate 40 between Hazen and the Cache River anywhere close to the top of the repair list?

  The highway under the overpass at Biscoe looks like it’s been through an earthquake. - Good Old Lew.

  Dear Lew: Good news from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation  Department. The section of I-40 from Hazen east to the Cache River is  scheduled to be rebuilt. A contract is to be let in July, with work to  begin before the end of summer. The project is about 11 miles long.

[cmatthews40510]

BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Arkansas Highway and Transportation  Department officials say additional work is planned on Interstate 55 in  Blytheville.

AHTD officials said in a news release that a project to reconstruct  5.2 miles of I-55 from just south of Highway 61 to just north of Highway  18 will be extended 0.34 miles on the southern end of the job.

Delta Asphalt of Arkansas was awarded a $22.1 million contract for  the project. Officials say an additional $1.1 million is being added to  pay for the extra work.

The agency says the project should be done by September 2012.








http://www.todaysthv...d-I-55-project-