BIKER NEWS: Bikers Face Detours Around Highway 23 In Franklin County

BN- With many traveling from out of the area to get to Fayetteville for Bikes, Blues and BBQ, some are facing the aftermath of a hill slide fromearlier this year.

Highway 23 in Franklin County is still being repaired.

For 12 hours a day, six days a week, construction workers said they have been busy since the beginning of August.

"It's been a slow process but we're getting her done,” construction worker John Green said.

A hill slide caused a portion of Highway 23 to close for most of the summer.

“It was messed up,” Green said. “This is looking good compared to what it was. It looked like a tornado came through here.”

Many people have found their way around the mess.

“There's some beautiful roads around it, so you can still drive around it -- 215, 103 will get you around," Steve Bates said.

But there's still some work to be done.

Construction workers removed 20 feet worth of dirt under the road and replaced it with solid rock. The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department said this should prevent any landslides from destroying the road in the future.

“The Pig Trail -- it's not going to stop us,” Bates said. “We’re still going to conquer this state. We love Northwest Arkansas!"

Bates is in town from Kansas City for Bikes Blues and BBQ for his third year in a row, and while he said he doesn't mind taking a detour because of the construction, he's surprised to see hardly anyone at Turner Bend.

“We're still seeing bikes but nothing like in years past when you see hundreds of bikes going by. It was surprising to come in today and not see the big group of people that we usually see each year,” he said. “I feel sorry for these guys because usually this parking lot is absolutely packed.”

Crews said relief for the business is on the way.

“[It’s]not going to be very long -- they'll be back on the road again,” Green said.

In a few weeks construction workers will be laying down the asphalt.

The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department said the project is expected to be completed by the end of October.

More: http://5newsonline.com/2015/09/25/bikers-face-detours-around-highway-23-in-franklin-county/