Devils Backbone Road Cut-Geology. This road cut exposes the upper Fayetteville Shale, and overlying lower Pitkin Limestone deposited in a shallow sea covering the southern Ozark region as the Mississippian Geological Period ended. As that sea regressed, the alternating Fayetteville black shale and fine- grained limestone layers forming the lower part of the exposure were succeeded by layers of lighter colored, shallower water, coarse-grained Pitkin limestone exposed toward its top.
Devils Backbone Road Cut-Construction. Project Engineer W.C. Johnston planned US 65's relocation across Devils Backbone. D.B. Hill Contractor, Little Rock, under the direction of D.B. Hill Sr, completed its construction in 1928, creating the original road cut. The company returned in 1972- 74, under the direction of D.B. Hill Jr and the supervision of D.B. Hill III, to widen the highway and straighten the road cut to accommodate the increased traffic.
Devils Backbone Road Cut-Geology
This road cut exposes the upper Fayetteville
Shale, and overlying lower Pitkin Limestone
deposited in a shallow sea covering the southern
Ozark region as the Mississippian Geological
Period ended. As that sea regressed, the
alternating Fayetteville black shale and fine-
grained limestone layers forming the lower part
of the exposure were succeeded by layers of
lighter colored, shallower water, coarse-grained
Pitkin limestone exposed toward its top.
Devils Backbone Road Cut-Construction
Project Engineer W.C. Johnston planned US
65's relocation across Devils Backbone.
D.B. Hill Contractor, Little Rock, under
the direction of D.B. Hill Sr, completed its
construction in 1928, creating the original
road cut. The company returned in 1972-
74, under the direction of D.B. Hill Jr and
the supervision of D.B. Hill III, to widen the
highway and straighten the road cut to
accommodate the increased traffic.
Erected by Searcy County Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Natural Features • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1928.
Location. 35° 53.715′ N, 92° 36.915′ W. Marker
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is near Marshall, Arkansas, in Searcy County. Marker is on U.S. 65 north of County Road 415, on the right when traveling south. Located at a Scenic Overlook. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Marshall AR 72650, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 30, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 23, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 631 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 23, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
