BENTON COUNTY (7-15) – Maintenance work on State Highway 12 requires a series of
alternating lane closures near the city of Gentry, according to Arkansas Department of
Transportation (ARDOT) officials.

Weather permitting; the alternating lane closures will occur between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00
p.m. daily from Wednesday, July 17 through Wednesday, July 24 starting at the Oklahoma
State Line and continuing to the city of Gentry.

This will reduce traffic to one lane within the work zone. Traffic will be controlled using
warning signs and flaggers. Crews will seal State Highway 12 with Bituminous Surface
Treatment (liquid asphalt and pea gravel).

Bituminous surface treatment is a proven method of sealing cracks and providing a durable
wearing surface utilizing local materials at an economical cost. Although loose material is
swept from the roadway after the treatment is placed, it usually takes from four to eight days
from the time the material is placed until the pea gravel is fully bonded to the roadway. The
time varies with the length of the section being surfaced and weather conditions. Therefore
reduced speeds are recommended for two weeks following the work.

Drivers should exercise caution when approaching and traveling through all highway work
zones. Additional travel information can be found at IDriveArkansas.com or ARDOT.gov. You
can also follow us on Twitter @myARDOT.

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