Dollarway Road
Encyclopedia
Dollarway Road is a road near Redfield, Arkansas
that was built in 1913. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
(NRHP) in 1974. The boundary of the NRHP-listed area was increased in 1999.
, north to the Pine Bluff – Little Rock wagon road at the Jefferson County
line.
slabs, poured in a 1-2½-5 mixture. At the edges were 45 degree slopes, which means only 8.5 miles (13.7 km) of the width was level, with the slopes acting as curbs. Further out from the center was 18 inch (0.4572 m) of gravel and 3 foot (0.9144 m) of earthwork. The gravel shoulder allowed vehicles to continue on the road without stopping for oncoming traffic, which was common at the time.
Tradition holds that the road was called Dollarway because it cost one dollar per linear foot to construct. The final cost was closer to $1.36 per foot. In July 1913, Little Rock, Arkansas
contractors Shelby and Bateman were chosen to construct the approximately twenty-three-mile road. Construction began in November 1913, and the road was finished in October 1914. The Dollarway Road was the longest continuous concrete pavement in the United States when complete.
Redfield, Arkansas
Redfield is a city in Jefferson County, Arkansas, United States. It was incorporated by the County Court on October 18, 1898. The city population was 1,157 at the 2000 U.S. census. It is included in the Pine Bluff, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area....
that was built in 1913. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
(NRHP) in 1974. The boundary of the NRHP-listed area was increased in 1999.
History
The nation began to focus on good roads at the start of the 20th century. Arkansas did not yet have a state highway commission and instead left the task of building and maintaining good roads to individual road districts, which consisted of area farmers and residents without central leadership and in many cases engineering experience. One district, Jefferson County Road Improvement District No. 4, decided to construct a concrete road from Pine Bluff, ArkansasArkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, north to the Pine Bluff – Little Rock wagon road at the Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Arkansas
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Its population was 77,435 at the 2010 United States Census. It is included in the Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area. Jefferson County's county seat and largest city is Pine Bluff...
line.
Dollarway pavement
The roadway was paved in 9 feet (2.7 m) wide concreteConcrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
slabs, poured in a 1-2½-5 mixture. At the edges were 45 degree slopes, which means only 8.5 miles (13.7 km) of the width was level, with the slopes acting as curbs. Further out from the center was 18 inch (0.4572 m) of gravel and 3 foot (0.9144 m) of earthwork. The gravel shoulder allowed vehicles to continue on the road without stopping for oncoming traffic, which was common at the time.
Tradition holds that the road was called Dollarway because it cost one dollar per linear foot to construct. The final cost was closer to $1.36 per foot. In July 1913, Little Rock, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
contractors Shelby and Bateman were chosen to construct the approximately twenty-three-mile road. Construction began in November 1913, and the road was finished in October 1914. The Dollarway Road was the longest continuous concrete pavement in the United States when complete.