By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
With the installation of the new bridge, the $1 million, 2.5-mile frontage road between Hwy. 5 and Hwy. 89 in Cabot now lacks only blacktop, the bridge approach, a little curb and gutter and a little sidewalk, according to Cabot Mayor Eddie Joe Williams.
Thompson Construction of Pocahontas was low bidder at $150,000 for the pre-cast concrete bridge, which was finished last week.
“It took about three weeks,” said Lonoke County Judge Charlie Troutman. “On a $150,000 job, they don’t waste much time.
Cabot chipped in $250,000 toward the project.
Troutman, who paid for most of the job out of Lonoke County road funds and had his road crew clear the land, bulldozed and graded it and spread the gravel base.
Troutman said he hoped the road will be open by early May. He has said he hopes it will not only help traffic and alleviate congestion, but will funnel more people and thus more tax dollars to the new Cabot Wal-Mart Supercenter instead of the one nearby in Jacksonville.
Sales tax at the Jacksonville Wal-Mart goes to Pulaski County. “We’ve gotten 100 percent cooperation from Williams and Cabot,” he said. “It’s been a pleasure to work with this mayor and city council.”
Troutman said his road crew “took the first tree down” on Oct. 15, 2005. A May opening would mean the entire project was completed in 18 months.
