HARRISON, Ar.—

Nearly ten months after a major Arkansas highway collapsed crews are finally building it back up again.

  The northbound lane of Highway 43 just outside of Harrison was wiped out by a landslide last April when record rains pummeled the Ozarks.

 
  The road up Gaither Mountain was already narrow and windy.
 
  When half the highway washed away it became treacherous, but drivers had it pretty good compared to the man living below them.

  When a section of Highway 43 slid down Gaither Mountain so did a safe and timely commute.

  “Getting to work in the mornings is really difficult,” one driver tells us.

  Reduced to one lane, one direction traffic often comes to a standstill.
 
  “For like ten minutes, some times fifteen,” she continues.

  But a  standstill is what Paul Hinkson has been hoping and praying for since the mountain started moving.  Last April the highway was washing into his backyard, which in turn was washing away.

  Hinkson lost his plumbing, his electricity, and he was pretty sure he’d lose his house.

  “Well FEMA came through,” says Hinkson.

  The agency gave hinkson the funds to make a change.

  “Just a massive amount of concrete and rebar but that supposedly will reinforce the house and keep it from sinking,” he tells us, pointing to the new addition.

  It’s called a reinforced foundation.  Hinkson says it’s supposed to hold even if the new Highway 43 does not.
 
  Crews are going to replace all of that loose dirt that was easily washed away by rain with rock because even though rock is pourous it’s not going anywhere.
 
  The repairs are slated to take a year and Hinkson doesn’t trust them- or his own repairs- entirely.
 
  “I’ve got so much more landscaping to do to feel really secure.  Any of that could come down at any time and that worries me,” he says, gesturing towards the large boulders on the hill above his house.  “Just being out here worries me,” he continues.

  He says he could use some retaining walls but because of cost that will be a slow process.  Hopefully so will what Hinkson calls the inevitable encroachment of Gaither Mountain.

  “I’m going to stay until it gives way,” he concludes.

  Hinkson and his family had to vacate the property once before, back in April.  FEMA actually paid for them to stay in hotels and an apartment for about a month and a half.

  The highway project is about a half mile and will cost just under $3.5 million.  In the meantime, expect delays.