HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-01-03-R pp
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING AN ARKANSAS HIGHWAY & TRANSPORTATION
DEPARTMENT STUDY OF THE RAMSEY MOUNTAIN SECTION OF U.S.
HIGHWAY 167, SOUTH OF BATESVILLE,ARKANSAS, TO DETERMINE THE
FEASIBILITY AND POSSIBLE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE RE-LOCATION OF
THIS SECTION OF HIGHWAY
WHEREAS, the only north/south highway access into and out of Batesville, Arkansas is
U.S. Highway 167 via Ramsey Mountain and the White River Bridge crossing at Batesville, and
WHEREAS, immediately south of Batesville, U.S. Highway 167 traverses Ramsey
Mountain via a steep and dangerous hairpin curve, and
WHEREAS, several large truck rollovers occur each year on this curve, often blocking
U.S. Highway 167 for hours, creating a significant public safety risk in the event of a medical
emergency, causing extreme inconvenience, and resulting in substantial lost economic activity
i for our citizens and businesses, and
I ` WHEREAS, another of these rollovers occurred on Thursday, January 7, 2010 at
approximately 3:20 P.M. closing U.S. Highway 167 and all north/south traffic into and out of
Batesville until just after I A.M. the following morning, a time span of nearly ten (10) hours, and
WHEREAS, this accident highlights the dangers and inconvenience to the citizens and
businesses of Batesville and Independence County as is further evidenced by this photograph,
and
t.
Propane Gas Spews From Overturned Tanke rck On US 167
• On Jan. 7, 2010. US Highway 167 CLOSED for Nearly 10 Hours
Photo Courtesy of Batesville Guard,Friday,January 8,2010
WHEREAS, this tanker truck, carrying 9,600 gallons of highly flammable, liquid
propane gas, ruptured on impact and began spewing its contents onto the roadway through a two
(2) foot gash in its tank creating a "bomb like", potentially explosive scenario, and
WHEREAS, residents of approximately 35 nearby homes, several businesses, and 10
lodgers in a nearby motel, were evacuated and a temporary shelter set up at the Southside Middle
School, and
WHEREAS, all north/south traffic had to be re-routed through the Newark/Oil Trough,
Arkansas area,the next closest bridge across White River, constituting a 30-plus mile detour to
area residents and travelers passing through, including several bus loads of school children, who
were over an hour late getting home, and
WHEREAS, parents and students were separated on opposite sides of White River just
as school was letting out for the day, and
WHEREAS, at least one accident occurred along the detour route as a vehicle missed a
curve on the unfamiliar detour route in the dark of night on a road with no shoulders, and
WHEREAS, this public safety risk is unacceptable to our Community.
NOW THEREFORE, the Batesville City Council hereby requests that the Arkansas
Highway& Transportation Department conduct a study and analysis to determine the feasibility
of relocating this section of U.S Highway 167 and to identify possible funding sources.
This RESOLUTION adopted this 1—day of , 2010.
Mayor Rick Elumbaugh
Attest:
Denise Johnston, City Clerk
CITY OF BATESVILLE
A 500 East Main
HISTORIC COUNCIL
TREASURE BATESVILLE,ARKANSAS 72501 THOMAS E.BRYANT
Phone 870-698-2400 MARGARETT HENLEY
DAVY INSELL
FAX 870-698-2406 FRED KRUG
9
S, LD C� DOUGLAS MATTHEWS
' MATT MCDONALD
RICK ELUMBAUGH,MAYOR RICHARD O'NEAL
DENISE JOHNSTON,CLERK DAVID SHETRON
SCOTT STALKER,ATTORNEY
January 25, 2010
Mr. Dan Flowers
Arkansas State Highway & Transportation Department
10324 Interstate 30
Little Rock, Arkansas 72209
Dear Director Flowers:
On Thursday, January 7, 2010 a tanker truck carrying 9,600 gallons of liquid propane gas
turned over on the sharp curve on Ramsey Mountain. The tanker ripped open and began spilling
liquid propane onto the highway resulting in the necessity of closing the highway for nearly ten
• (10) hours. These truck rollovers occur all too frequently and create an unacceptable public
safety risk and inconvenience to our community.
As a result of the public outcry from this event the Batesville City Council on January 12,
2010 unanimously passed the attached Resolution requesting that the Arkansas Highway &
Transportation Department conduct a study of U.S. Highway 167 on Ramsey Mountain to
determine the feasibility of relocating that section of U.S. Highway 167.
While the construction of the Batesville Bypass would provide our community second
river crossing it would not solve the inherent safety problem of the curves on Ramsey Mountain.
I believe that because of the number truck rollovers in the last couple of years and because of at
least one recent fatality it is time to revisit ways to reduce these accidents.
I have also enclosed a copy of the Friday, January 8, 2010 Batesville Guard for your
reading enjoyment.
Sincerely:
Rick Elumbaugh, Mayor
"CITY OF HOSPITALITY"