The Arkansas Department of Transportation faced a difficult challenge: a sharp 90-degree curve on Highway 37 near Tuckerman was causing commercial vehicles to roll over, destroying freight shipments. Concurrently, the area’s roadway was “load posted” due to its pavement structure – forcing many trucks to take 30-mile detour. As a result, this $6 million project not only realigned this 90-degree curve to alleviate rollovers, but the improvements to its pavement structure also removed the weight restrictions. Not only did those efforts make this section of Highway 37 safer for commercial vehicles, but it helped the local economy with greater freight throughput due to the removal of weight restrictions. The Highway 37–Tuckerman Curve project—led by the Arkansas Department of Transportation in partnership with the City of Tuckerman and Jackson County—received 80 percent of its pavement overlay funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The project improved connectivity for families and commercial farmers alike, supporting safer, more efficient travel while reducing crashes, vehicle wear, and fuel consumption.
