LITTLE ROCK (9-4) 

    A section of Highway 7, in Pope County , has been temporarily closed to through traffic due to flood damage from recent rains associated with Hurricane Gustav, according to Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) officials.

     The area of damage to the highway is located just south of Pelsor.  The same location suffered slope damage in March of this year when flooding left damaged highways in 32 counties.  Crouse Construction Company of Harrison , Arkansas , was awarded a $492,948.72 contract in August to make repairs to Highway 7. 

     “Work crews at this location on Highway 7 had traffic restricted to one lane and were beginning repair work from the damage suffered earlier this year when this week’s rain caused some cracking to the lane we had open,” stated Scott Mullis, AHTD District Eight Engineer.  “Because of the potential instability of the roadway, we decided to close the highway to through traffic.”

     A detour route has been established to the east of Highway 7 that is routing traffic onto Highways 16 and 27, between Pelsor and Dover . 

     “It has yet to be determined how long it will take crews to make repairs to the highway,” added Mullis. 

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