It's no secret that Highway 64 in Beebe has seen rapid growth. Beebe is a growing community with a lot of great things happening!

It's also no secret that the Highway 67/167 Exit #28 and entrance is very difficult to safely navigate because of that growth. Vehicles are backed up to the interstate constantly, waiting for their chance to weave into the high volume of oncoming traffic on U.S. Highway 64. If a vehicle has to cross traffic to go the opposite direction, it's a challenging and dangerous gamble. Many near accidents have occurred.

David Nilles, a spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Transportation, told Arkansas Democrat-Gazette columnist Frank Fellone there are no plans right now to put a traffic signal there and no plans to install a cloverleaf traffic design, as was reported on social media.

Nilles said the first step citizens should take to get a traffic signal installed is to petition the governing body — In this case it would be Mayor Mike Robertson and the Beebe City Council — to request that Arkansas Department of Transportation do a traffic study of the interchange.

This is important because the city must be willing to sign an agreements to accept maintenance of the signal after it's built and installed.

If the study indicates a need for a signal, that need is put on ArDot's list to build as the money becomes available.

So this is the first step. If you feel a traffic signal is needed at the U.S. 64 exit in Beebe, please sign the petition. It will then be presented to Mayor Robinson and the Beebe City Council.

Here’s to future red, green and yellow — and safer, more efficient travel — at this exit!

Thank you for your support!