Repair work under way on collapsed road, culvert

A collapsed Miller County road and culvert have become a complicated repair job, Miller County Judge Roy John McNatt said.
"It may look easy, but it's a complicated job putting in the 12 railroad tank cars to replace the bridge, which collapsed. Then the tank cars will be welded together and dirt, gravel and packing sand will be placed over the tank cars, and then asphalt," McNatt said.
"It's a big job, and the construction company and the road crews are doing a good job when it's not raining," he said.
The estimated cost will probably exceed $200,000, he said. Each tank car costs about $10,000, and with 12 railroad tank car culverts, that's $120,000.
Each tank car is made of steel and weighs about 40,000 pounds. The structure can carry 50 tons and spans about 80 feet.
The railroad car culvert can also carry a continuous flow of water.
Heavy traffic and time have been blamed for the culvert collapse about 5 p.m. March 26 on Miller County Road 64 near Tyson's River Valley Animal Food plant.
The collapse happened near the Red River.
A temporary road was constructed within 24 hours to keep traffic flowing, McNatt said. The road was compacted to carry 80,000 pounds.
"We used one of the tank cars to build a temporary road, and the Tyson plant never had to shut down. They have a lot of employees, and they're running everyday," he said.
Tyson has about 120 employees at the plant and an estimated 150 tractor-trailers travel the road daily, in addition to passenger vehicles.
Cleve Batte Construction is helping the county's road crews to replace the culvert. "It's an emergency, and we're using them to help repair the road," McNatt said.
The removal of the old bridge left about a hole about 30 feet deep and wide.
No one was hurt when it collapsed, but Mikel Frazier, 41, of Russellville, Ark., had a close call. According to Miller County Sheriff's Office, he couldn't see the hole until he was too close to avoid driving into it.
A collapsed Miller County road and culvert have become a complicated repair job, Miller County Judge Roy John McNatt said. "It may look easy, but it's a complicated job putting in the 12 railroad tank cars to replace the bridge, which collapsed. Then the tank cars will be welded together and dirt, gravel and packing sand will be placed over the tank cars, and then asphalt," McNatt said. "It's a big job, and the construction company and the road crews are doing a good job when it's not raining," he said. The estimated cost will probably exceed $200,000, he said. Each tank car costs about $10,000, and with 12 railroad tank car culverts, that's $120,000. Each tank car is made of steel and weighs about 40,000 pounds. The structure can carry 50 tons and spans about 80 feet. The railroad car culvert can also carry a continuous flow of water. Heavy traffic and time have been blamed for the culvert collapse about 5 p.m. March 26 on Miller County Road 64 near Tyson's River Valley Animal Food plant. The collapse happened near the Red River. A temporary road was constructed within 24 hours to keep traffic flowing, McNatt said. The road was compacted to carry 80,000 pounds. "We used one of the tank cars to build a temporary road, and the Tyson plant never had to shut down. They have a lot of employees, and they're running everyday," he said. Tyson has about 120 employees at the plant and an estimated 150 tractor-trailers travel the road daily, in addition to passenger vehicles. Cleve Batte Construction is helping the county's road crews to replace the culvert. "It's an emergency, and we're using them to help repair the road," McNatt said. The removal of the old bridge left about a hole about 30 feet deep and wide. No one was hurt when it collapsed, but Mikel Frazier, 41, of Russellville, Ark., had a close call. According to Miller County Sheriff's Office, he couldn't see the hole until he was too close to avoid driving into it.

A collapsed Miller County road and culvert have become a complicated repair job, Miller County Judge Roy John McNatt said.

"It may look easy, but it's a complicated job putting in the 12 railroad tank cars to replace the bridge, which collapsed. Then the tank cars will be welded together and dirt, gravel and packing sand will be placed over the tank cars, and then asphalt," McNatt said.

"It's a big job, and the construction company and the road crews are doing a good job when it's not raining," he said.

The estimated cost will probably exceed $200,000, he said. Each tank car costs about $10,000, and with 12 railroad tank car culverts, that's $120,000.

Each tank car is made of steel and weighs about 40,000 pounds. The structure can carry 50 tons and spans about 80 feet.

The railroad car culvert can also carry a continuous flow of water.

Heavy traffic and time have been blamed for the culvert collapse about 5 p.m. March 26 on Miller County Road 64 near Tyson's River Valley Animal Food plant.

The collapse happened near the Red River.

A temporary road was constructed within 24 hours to keep traffic flowing, McNatt said. The road was compacted to carry 80,000 pounds.

"We used one of the tank cars to build a temporary road, and the Tyson plant never had to shut down. They have a lot of employees, and they're running everyday," he said.

Tyson has about 120 employees at the plant and an estimated 150 tractor-trailers travel the road daily, in addition to passenger vehicles.

Cleve Batte Construction is helping the county's road crews to replace the culvert. "It's an emergency, and we're using them to help repair the road," McNatt said.

The removal of the old bridge left about a hole about 30 feet deep and wide.

No one was hurt when it collapsed, but Mikel Frazier, 41, of Russellville, Ark., had a close call. According to Miller County Sheriff's Office, he couldn't see the hole until he was too close to avoid driving into it.

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