Little Rock, Arkansas – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced new funding this week aimed at transforming the condition of rural, unpaved roads across Arkansas. With more than $735,000 allocated through the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Program (AURP), a total of twelve counties will benefit from road infrastructure improvements that target drainage, erosion control, and water quality protection.
The announcement, made in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, is the latest effort by state leaders to invest in rural communities where unpaved roads serve as lifelines for everyday travel, agriculture, and emergency services.
“Today’s announcement guarantees hardworking Arkansans in rural communities throughout the Natural State will have access to safe and reliable roads,” Governor Sanders said. “Thank you to the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Technical Committee and Secretary Ward for spearheading this important effort to improve our state’s critical infrastructure.”
The funding comes as part of a growing push to modernize county road systems, especially in areas frequently impacted by heavy rainfall, runoff, and erosion that can render gravel roads impassable. All twelve selected projects focus on protecting water resources while ensuring safer and more reliable travel.
“Arkansas is a rural state and county roads are critical to our way of life,” added Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “Today’s announcement by Governor Sanders highlights the important partnership between state and county government and serves as a great example of what can be accomplished when multiple agencies and organizations work together for the benefit of our state.”
Each county’s project was carefully selected and reviewed by the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Technical Committee, which includes representatives from federal, state, and local agencies. The committee evaluates proposals based on environmental impact, cost-efficiency, and long-term road durability.
Benton County will receive $75,000 to elevate one mile of roadway, install cable mats, and enlarge culverts to better manage stormwater. Calhoun County was awarded the same amount to raise a bridge by two feet and install multiple culverts for drainage improvements.
In Dallas County, $54,198 will go toward elevating over 1,000 feet of road and upgrading drainage with new culverts and cross pipes. Meanwhile, Fulton County plans to use its $37,352 to stabilize eroded roadbed sections, reshape ditches, and install two cross pipes across a two-mile section of road.
Hot Spring County will replace a round culvert with two bottomless arch culverts to improve water flow, using $60,000 in funding. Independence County will use more than $56,000 to reshape ditches, add ditch checks, and install seven new cross pipes over a 2,700-foot section of roadway.
In the northeast, Lawrence County received $45,680 to relocate 1,830 feet of road away from a riverbank, building the new section on top of a levee and adding a riparian buffer for environmental protection.
Lincoln County will raise and widen 1,800 feet of road and install triple box culverts and twelve cross pipes with the help of its $74,894 allocation. Scott County will use $57,446 to enhance a free-span bridge by raising and lengthening it and installing headwalls, wing walls, and three relief culverts.
Sebastian County was granted $49,459 to replace a deteriorated pipe with reinforced concrete culverts and make additional improvements to water flow. Sevier County will improve drainage and raise 500 feet of roadbed using its $75,000 in funding. Woodruff County plans to raise a mile-long stretch of road and install fourteen culverts to handle runoff, backed by $74,867.
“The vast majority of county roads in Arkansas are unpaved,” said County Judges’ Association of Arkansas President Judge Rusty McMillon. “This program provides much needed funding for improving sections of gravel roads that are sometimes left impassable due to significant erosion during rainfall and water runoff. The State’s partnership with us through this program by providing Best Management Practices for this type of work helps us to improve certain areas of transportation infrastructure. This makes our driving surfaces safer and more reliable.”
The AURP was first established in 2015 to tackle the twin challenges of rural infrastructure degradation and environmental preservation. It is administered by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture and receives $300,000 annually in state appropriations. Federal grants help bolster the program’s reach and impact, allowing more counties to benefit each year.
Beyond immediate infrastructure improvements, the program plays a key role in protecting Arkansas’ rivers, streams, and lakes from sedimentation caused by eroding roads. County judges and road crews work with the AURP team to implement best practices that ensure long-lasting road quality and environmental stewardship.
Governor Sanders and Secretary Ward emphasized that this latest round of funding reflects the state’s strong commitment to rural development, public safety, and responsible land management. With a growing list of successful projects already completed across the state, the AURP continues to serve as a model for rural infrastructure programs nationwide.
As construction gets underway on the twelve projects, residents in these counties can expect to see safer, more dependable roads—and better protection for their natural resources. For many, it’s a welcome investment in areas that have long been underserved and overlooked.
The Arkansas Unpaved Roads Program continues to accept applications and will announce new rounds of funding in the future as additional state and federal resources become available.
