LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (July 10, 2025) — Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Thursday more than $735,000 in funding for 12 projects across Arkansas counties through the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Program.
The funding will support projects aimed at improving drainage, stormwater management, and water quality along rural county roads, many of which remain unpaved.
“Today’s announcement guarantees hardworking Arkansans in rural communities throughout the Natural State will have access to safe and reliable roads,” 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.”
Administered by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Program (AURP) was created in 2015 and works with county governments to implement best management practices that reduce sediment runoff and protect water resources. The program receives $300,000 annually in state appropriations, supplemented by federal grants.
“Arkansas is a rural state and county roads are critical to our way of life,” said 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.”
Projects selected for funding are reviewed and recommended by the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Technical Committee, which includes representatives from local, state, and federal agencies.
“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 12 funded projects include:
- Benton County – $75,000 to elevate one mile of road, install cable mats, and enlarge culverts.
- Calhoun County – $75,000 to raise a bridge by two feet and install culverts to improve drainage.
- Dallas County – $54,198 to elevate 1,056 feet of road and upgrade drainage infrastructure.
- Fulton County – $37,352 to improve ditches, stabilize roadbed sections, and add cross pipes along two miles.
- Hot Spring County – $60,000 to replace a round culvert with two bottomless arch culverts.
- Independence County – $56,109 to raise 2,700 feet of road and install seven cross pipes for drainage.
- Lawrence County – $45,680 to relocate road away from a riverbank and create a riparian buffer.
- Lincoln County – $74,894 to raise and widen road, replace culverts, and install 12 cross pipes.
- Scott County – $57,446 to modify a free-span bridge and add three relief culverts.
- Sebastian County – $49,459 to replace a deteriorated pipe with reinforced concrete culverts.
- Sevier County – $75,000 to improve drainage and raise 500 feet of roadbed.
- Woodruff County – $74,867 to raise one mile of road and install 14 culverts for runoff management.
Not a paving program
According to Kevin McGaughey, Program Coordinator for the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, “It is against the Arkansas Unpaved Road Program (AURP) rules to use any of the grant funds to pave roads. If any of these roads eventually get paved, it would be a county decision and on their dime. The main point of the program is to implement practices that are going to keep sediment on roadways and out of waterbodies. That being said, these practices typically improve the overall road condition for everyone (vehicles, cyclists, etc.).”
More information about the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Program is available at the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s website: https://agriculture.arkansas.gov/natural-resources/divisions/water-management/arkansas-unpaved-roads-program.
This article was originally published on ArkansasOutside.com, your trusted source for outdoor news and updates in The Natural State. Unless otherwise credited, all photos included in this piece are the property of Arkansas Outside, LLC. We take pride in sharing the beauty and adventures of Arkansas through our lens—thank you for supporting our work!
