{{Short description|Historic road in Jefferson County, Arkansas}} {{Use American English|date=October 2017}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Dollarway Road | image = Reynolds Road - Redfield.jpg | caption = Dollarway Road in Redfield, Arkansas | coordinates = {{coord|34|26|17|N|92|10|49|W|region:US-AR|display=inline,title}} | locmapin = Arkansas | map_caption = Location in Arkansas | locmap_relief = yes | nearest_city = Redfield, Arkansas | area = {{convert|12.5|acre|ha}} (after increase) | built = 1913–1914 | builder = Shelby & Bateman | architect = Isaac Prather Shelby | architecture = | added = May 17, 1974 | increase = July 15, 1999 | refnum = 74000480 | increase_refnum = 99000822<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref> }} The '''Dollarway Road''' is a historic road built in 1914 in Jefferson County, Arkansas. The road was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.<ref name=nris/>
==History== The nation began to focus on good roads at the start of the 20th century. Arkansas didn't establish a state highway system until 1923. Before that, building and maintaining good roads was the responsibility of local road districts, which consisted of area farmers and residents without central leadership and in many cases engineering experience.<ref>{{cite news | title = Arkansas Highway History and Architecture, 1910–1965 | publisher = National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form | url ={{NRHP url|id=64500014}} |page=8 |accessdate = July 2, 2011 }}</ref> One district, Jefferson County Road Improvement District No. 4, decided to construct a concrete road from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, north to the Pine Bluff – Little Rock wagon road at the Jefferson County line.
==Dollarway pavement== The roadway was paved in {{convert|9|ft|m}} wide concrete slabs, poured in a 1-2½-5 mixture.<ref>{{cite news | title = Arkansas Highway History and Architecture, 1910–1965 | publisher = National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form | url ={{NRHP url|id=64500014}} |page=9 |accessdate = July 2, 2011 }}</ref> The concrete was topped with a layer of coal tar about 1/16 inch thick.<ref>{{ cite news | title=Brickmakers' Association Raps Concrete Paving | newspaper = Honolulu Star-Bulletin | date=22 December 1915 | page=15 | url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014682/1915-12-22/ed-2/seq-15.pdf | access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref> At the edges were 45 degree slopes, which means only {{convert|8.5|ft|m}} of the width was level, with the slopes acting as curbs. Further out from the center was {{convert|18|in|m}} of gravel and {{convert|3|ft|m}} of earthwork. The gravel shoulder allowed vehicles to continue on the road without stopping for oncoming traffic, which was common at the time.
During the construction of the Toronto-Hamilton Highway, a steam shovel was used to remove two miles of Dollarway pavement.<ref>{{ cite journal | title=Completion of Last Section of the Toronto-Hamilton Concrete Highway | author=H. S. Scoyoc| journal = Engineering and Contract Record |page =[https://archive.org/details/engineeringcontr312torouoft/page/900 900] | date=31 October 1917 | url=https://archive.org/details/engineeringcontr312torouoft}}</ref> The Ann Arbor City Engineer wrote in 1917 about the durability of Dollarway construction.<ref>{{ cite journal | title=Paving and Road Building Results | author=Manley Osgood| journal = Engineering and Contract Record|page = https://archive.org/details/engineeringcontr312torouoft/page/753 753] | date=5 September 1917 | url=https://archive.org/details/engineeringcontr312torouoft}}</ref> <blockquote>As I said before, after the completion of the first pavement, the people were very enthusiastic about this type of pavement. It continued to grow in favor in 1910 and 1911; then the tide commenced slowly to turn. It became evident to all that it was necessary to recarpet the concrete every two or three years, in some cases, varying with traffic conditions, even every year. Those who owned automobiles did not like the throwing up of the tar and sand on the under side of the fenders. In some places, where the carpeting peeled off. the concrete commenced to ravel, and sections, varying in size, had to be cut out and replaced with better material. It was then realized that reducing the first cost to a minimum had caused a heavy burden of maintenance and repair. These pavements must be kept carpeted to preserve the concrete underneath as long as possible. </blockquote>
Tradition holds that the road was called Dollarway because it cost one dollar per linear foot to construct.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Arkansas Historic Preservation Program |url=https://archive.org/details/the-national-register-of-historic-places-an-arkansas-guide/page/n39/mode/2up?q=Dollarway+Road |title=The National Register Of Historic Places An Arkansas Guide |date=1986-11-04}}</ref> The final cost was closer to $1.36 per foot.{{refneeded|date=December 2024}} In July 1913, Little Rock, Arkansas contractors Shelby & Bateman were chosen to construct the approximately 23-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.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Stager |first=Claudette |title=Dollarway Road |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/dollarway-road-5237/ |accessdate=May 26, 2021}}</ref> The Dollarway Road was the first concrete road in the state.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Defense Technical Information Center |url=https://archive.org/details/DTIC_ADA113818/page/n405/mode/2up?q=%22Dollarway+Road%22 |title=DTIC ADA113818: Environmental Inventory and Analysis for Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Volume I. Pine Bluff Metropolitan Area, Arkansas Urban Water Management Study. |date=1975-10-03 |language=english}}</ref>
==Today== The original 1974 National Register listing boundary placed the Dollarway within a park near Redfield.{{refneeded|date=December 2024}} In 1999 the listing was enlarged to add a portion of the Dollarway still used today as Reynolds Road.{{refneeded|date=December 2024}} This segment also contains two original Dollarway concrete bridges.
==See also== <!-- EDITORS NOTE: This section should primarily contain lists linked to the main article which are directly related to the person. Thank you. --> * Arkansas Highway 365 * National Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson County, Arkansas
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==Further reading== * {{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |title=History paved way for Dollarway Road |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/oct/26/history-paved-wayfor-dollarway-road/ |work=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |others=Special to The Commercial |location=Little Rock, Arkansas |date=October 26, 2020 |access-date=May 27, 2021}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dollarway Road}} Category:1913 establishments in Arkansas Category:History of Jefferson County, Arkansas Category:National Register of Historic Places in Redfield, Arkansas Category:Roads on the National Register of Historic Places in Arkansas Category:Transport infrastructure completed in 1914 Category:Transportation in Redfield, Arkansas