Farmers have been raising concerns about future I-555 virtually since the idea first became public knowledge, and last week they met with state highway officials to once again voice their opinions.

The meeting took place at Marked Tree City hall last Tuesday. In addition to local farmers, representatives Jon Reginald and Dan Flowers of the state highway commission were also in attendance along with Roger Fisher of Sen. Blanche Lincoln's Office, Chris Ingle of Congressman Marion Berry's office Russell Hall of Sen. Mark Pryor's office, and Rep. Buddy Lovell.

Representatives from Agricultural related businesses were also present along with Marked Tree Mayor Dixon Chandler and Ritter Arnold of Ritter Inc.

The highway, which is still currently Highway 63, is now a controlled access highway through most of the Marked Tree and Tyronza area. This means it is illegal for farmers to drive tractors on the roadway due to federal law.

Some farmers have been receiving tickets for moving their equipment on the highway, and expressed frustration with highway officials.

The law does not currently apply to the floodways between Marked Tree and Payneway. Because it has dirt roads still connected to the roadway, the floodways are considered "limited access," making it legal for the tractors to still use the road to transport equipment across the St. Francis River.

However, this will not be the case when Highway 63 is officially designated I-555.

Still, there are issues at hand for some farmers right now.

"The problem is that farmers coming from Highway 149 to Highway 75 have to come through town," Chandler said. "They can't take their big rigs on the highway, but we don't want them bringing them through town. And they don't want to have to drive through town either."

Chandler said it would be hard for farmers to bring their large equipment through the main streets of Marked Tree where they could knock over signs and damage vehicles on narrow streets.

Farmers needing to travel from Tyronza to Highway 149 are faced with the same issues of needing to find back roads to reach their destinations.

What was once a trip of only a few miles for some farmers will now be tens of miles.

While there is no immediate solution in sight, farmers hope to see legislators fund a future project, which has been estimated to cost somewhere close to $20 million, to put an access road along the floodways.

Funding for the project is still in discussion.