Highway to Hens

Along with the expansion at Tyson Foods are plans for an easier access to Interstate 540 from the company’s south Springdale headquarters.

Patsy Christie, Springdale’s director of planning and community development, said Springdale had filed a request through U.S. Rep. John Boozman’s office asking for funding assistance to widen Johnson Road. Christie said she did not expect a reply before fall.

The plan is for Johnson Road to become three- or four-lanes down to just north of the creek and railroad track near Johnson, where it would then loop around and tie in with Main Street in Johnson somewhere between James at the Mill and the Little Sandy Creek bridge.

Drivers would have much easier access to south Springdale and Tyson Foods’ general offices from Interstate 540 without having to tour all of downtown Johnson.