A proposed interstate extension through Morehouse Parish, connecting Monticello, Ark., to Interstate 20, will not become reality for 30 years or more because of financial restrictions, consultant Michael Brugge said during a public hearing on the project Thursday at Bastrop Municipal Center.

“We are looking at the degree to which this study is economically justified,” said Brugge, lead consultant with Parsons, an engineering and construction firm in Memphis.

For quantitative analysis, Brugge said his firm “narrowed the study area to two representative corridors.”

Corridor A would run 82 miles through Fountain Hill, Ark., Beekman, Wardville and Perryville to meet I-20 in Monroe. It would run east of Crossett, Ark., and west of Bastrop, with 2,840 acres of rights of way and an estimated travel time of a half hour.

Corridor B would run 82 miles through Galion, Mer Rouge and Oak Ridge to meet I-20 in Rayville. It would pass east of Bastrop and encompass 2,940 acres of rights of way, with an estimated travel time of 10 hours.

Brugge said studies of the theoretical corridors were based on estimated traffic forecasts for 2030, and included factors such as potential displacement of churches, businesses, cemeteries and homes, and environmental impact.

The estimated opening day costs are $1.6 billion for Corridor A and $1.5 billion for Corridor B.

The estimated annual maintenance costs are $106 million for Corridor A and $113.2 million for Corridor B.

Finally, the annual monetary values of estimated benefits — travel time, avoided crashes and fuel consumption — are $159.2 million for Corridor A and $134.3 million for Corridor B.

All of that means the benefits-cost ratio for Corridor A is $1.51 million and the ratio for Corridor B is $1.19 million.

“It’s a no-brainer,” Bastrop Mayor Clarence Hawkins said. “Corridor A is the better option.”

Officials said the connector might be economically justified.

“Well, the benefits outweigh the costs,” Brugge said. “We also find the savings in travel time were big. And we’ve found strong local support, which is helpful.”

The next step when the feasibility is final would be the federally-mandated environmental study.

“At this time, there are no funds available to carry this forward,” Brugge said.

The proposed connector linking Monticello to I-20 would be an extension of the I-69 extension between Wilmar and Monticello.

“Arkansas doesn’t have all the funds in place for I-69 yet,” Brugge said. “I think it would be accurate to say it will be about 30 years for the I-69 project to get started. It’s going to be awhile.”

Dan Broussard with the Louisiana DOTD’s Planning and Programming Division agreed.

“This is not a priority in our state,” Broussard said. “This project certainly has potential value to Louisiana, but we have to maintain and upgrade our existing interstate system.”

Morehouse Economic Development Corporation President Kay King said she would like to see the connector come sooner than 30 years from now.

“I do think it is something we need to think about,” King said. “We have needed a north-south corridor from Pine Bluff to I-20 for a long time. Whatever they do will benefit Morehouse Parish.”