I’m still trying to figure out whether to feel sorry for the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department’s inability to better clear the major snow- and ice-packed highways across Northwest Arkansas. OK, well, maybe I do a little.
The matter drew statewide attention on social media after last week’s major snowfall that blanketed the region’s highways, including U.S. 71 at the Missouri border. An astute motorist snapped a picture that reveals a clear highway on the Missouri side compared with nothing but a frozen white sheet on our side of the line.
What’s that they say about a picture being worth this entire column of words? Anyway, the stark contrast between how Missouri had effectively cleared this major thoroughfare versus our inadequate attempt spoke volumes. Even highway department spokesman Randy Ort felt obliged to admit in a news story by reporterTeresa Moss: “Based on that picture, we understand that criticism.”
Ort went on to earn his compensation by defending his employer, saying weary Arkansas road crews had been toiling days and nights to clear the roads, so the stillpacked highways weren’t due to any lack of effort.
Steve Lawrence, the engineer for the district that includes Benton, Boone, Searcy, Carroll, Madison, Newton, Baxter and Marion counties and 1,702 highway miles, said his crews labored six straight 24-hour days on the highways.
He’s quoted saying: “I do feel like we did the best we could with our forces and equipment. Obviously, Missouri did something better than we did.”
Besides that, Missouri has a much larger highway department in the southwest district that borders Arkansas, and more resources to rely upon when winter wreaks its predictable havoc. To his credit, Lawrence said conversations are under way with Missouri highway officials to determine how we can improve.
Missouri does experience more annual snowfall than Arkansas each year. I read that Joplin, Mo., averages about 12.5 inches annually, while Rogers, an hour south in Benton County averages about 8 inches. And Missouri’s highway department has indeed beefed up resources to meet winter’s challenges.
What I find hard to fathom is that Lawrence and the Missouri highway engineer quoted both made odd references to Missouri being a “northern state.” Say what, now? I’m not sure snowstorms respect human geography. Besides, I’ve always believed Missouri is more Midwest than say the Dakotas, Wisconsin, Minnesota or “northern” states.
Yet I could be mistaken since I’m no meteorologist and believe I earned a C in junior high geography.
I’m certain our Arkansas road crews work to exhaustion when these calamities hit. That’s not at question.
And I’m equally sure Lawrence continues to be proactive in researching and acquiring better techniques and equipment to help us better resemble Missouri when it comes to clearing major highways in these winter storms. It’s an enormous task.
Michael Middleton, who oversees the Southwest district of Missouri, with 21 counties and 6,500 highway miles, said his crews spread an average of 150 pounds of salt per lanemile (about $60 a ton) when winter comes a-callin’. Those dollars add up real quick with so many miles to treat.
Lawrence was unable to say how much of our state highway department’s stockpile of salt was expended during the latest storm. I’m confused. Are inventories of this expensive mineral not measured in our state? If I start with 1,000 tonsand now we have 600 tons remaining, I’d likely determine that 400 tons was spread. But then I also know nothing about the finer points of salt-spreading.
I am pleased to see our state slowly acquiring more high-tech snow plows and improved methods. It’s reassuring to know that three years ago Lawrence began using Missouri’s idea of a beet juice and salt brine concoction that makes salt even more effective on roads.
Let’s all hope that tell-tale photo of U.S. 71 at our border is the catalyst for further highway-clearing improvements (considering winter doesn’t officially arrive for another week.)
Missouri’s Southwest District uses 700 employees and 286 trucks to clear its 6,500 highway miles. Each piece of equipment covers an average 22.7 miles of highway.
In contrast, Arkansas’ District 9 uses 240 employees and 83 pieces of equipment to clear 1,702 miles. That’s an average of 20.5 highway miles for each piece of equipment.
The numbers alone say we have about a fourth as many highway miles to clear across nearly a third as many counties, using about a third as many workers and pieces of equipment.
Surely we Arkansans can figure out how to work smarter and more efficiently at clearing our highways. Even Old Man Winter knows the PR folks at our highway department don’t need another picture circulating like the one taken at the border last week. -
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Mike Masterson’s column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Email him at [email protected]. Read his blog at mikemastersonsmessenger.com.
Editorial, Pages 79 on 12/15/2013