Since 1963, Paragould has sought a bypass that would take traffic around the city. Yesterday, the eastern part of that bypass was dedicated.
“I think it’s a big asset to Paragould. It takes a lot of traffic out of the center of Paragould and will benefit the city very much.”
That’s Paragould resident John Bennett. His comments echoed what a lot of people at the ceremony stated. Since 2007, plans have been in the works and construction has taken place on the eastern bypass of US Highway 412. The bypass was designed to relieve the city of some of the truck traffic that clogged the town in the past. Paragould Mayor Mike Gaskill tells how the bypass has benefitted the city.
“With those who are in 18-wheelers and those are traveling through the community, it is a help. If you are going through Paragould to go to I-55, you can turn on the 412 bypass and can avoid going through downtown Paragould.”
The two-lane eastern bypass is wide enough to allow for it to be expanded to four-lanes in the future to accommodate future growth, something Gaskill fully expects to happen soon.
“We talked about that and they bought enough property there to where they can widen it to four-lanes when the time comes. There would be a separate two lanes so that way the bypass wouldn’t have to be shut down during construction. When it will happen will depend on the traffic.”
He says he expects growth to happen along the bypass and says the land could be zoned for businesses to be placed along the bypass.
Paragould Resident Tom Kirk is Chairman of the Paragould Chamber of Commerce’s Highway Committee. He has a business near the bypass and sees how it is working.
“It comes out right at my store, so I can sit upstairs and see how the trailer trucks are catching on quick and know how to use the bypass.”
Director of the State Highway Transportation Department Scott Bennett says the western bypass will be constructed next year:
“The western section will start on the latter half of next year and eventually we will have to add two lanes to the entire bypass to make it four lanes. The other connection is joining Paragould to Highway 67. Highway 67 should be completed to the Walnut Ridge/Hoxie bypass next year and we have plans to four-lane 412 to US 67.”
Work could start on the western bypass in the latter part of 2016.
