Contact: Doug Hecox, 202-366-0660
FHWA 19-04j

A new $306,448 Federal Highway Administration grant to build a nearly 20-mile segment of U.S. 71 will add economic opportunity across southwest Arkansas, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said today.

"Upgrading this highway will put southwest Arkansas on the path to increased economic growth," Secretary Mineta said. "The new highway will open this important region to new opportunity and fuel prosperity for its residents."

The section of U.S. 71 is currently a two-lane highway stretching from DeQueen, AR, to the Louisiana state line. It will eventually become part of four-lane Interstate 49 and connect Kansas City, MO, to New Orleans, LA.

"President Bush knows that transportation investments are ensuring that goods make it to store shelves, and helping Arkansans get to their jobs and home again safely and on time," said Federal Highway Administrator Mary E. Peters.

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