For Kanis, more lanes on the way
Dear Mahatma: What are the plans to improve Kanis/Heinous Road between Shackleford and Chenal Parkway? It’s already horrible and will get worse when those apartment complexes under construction are opened. — Everett
Dear Everett: You are one of several readers who have asked about Kanis, especially in light of the 168-unit McKenzie Park Apartments, the construction of which has previously been reported in this newspaper’s Business & Farm section. In the course of that reporting, it was noted the developer would widen its side of Kanis to accord with the city’s master street plan.
For what’s up with that master street plan as it applies to Kanis Road, we turn to Jennifer Godwin, recently appointed as the city of Little Rock’s communications and marketing manager, and now conveyor of knowledge to citizens via this column.
Godwin said that in May 2013, the city Board of Directors approved funding for the first phase of improvements to Kanis Road, from Shackleford to Gamble Road.
Design work is underway for a five-lane street from Shackleford to Bowman Road. That is, two lanes in each direction plus a turn lane. First phase of construction will begin in 2016.
Design work is also underway for a three-lane street from Bowman to Gamble. That is, one lane in each direction plus a turn lane. Additional turn and travel lanes will be added at major intersections. First phase of construction will start in 2016.
About $5.3 million has been appropriated for these projects. More improvements will be considered by the Board of Directors for the next bond issue, tentatively scheduled for 2018.
That’s not so far away, Everett, is it?
Dear Mahatma: I drove through the Heights this weekend and saw people on bikes, roller-bladers, mothers with double strollers, someone walking three dogs, someone pulling a wagon with three kids, joggers, someone in a motorized wheelchair going from car to house, two mopeds and a motorcycle that seemed to be about a foot tall. Why would one care about a safely operated golf cart? — JC
Dear JC: You make reference to last week’s column, in which it was revealed that golf carts may not be driven on the streets of Little Rock.
The big deal is that state law permits cities to allow golf carts if those cities so choose. Little Rock does not choose. The other part of the big deal is that, on the basis of what people report here, golf carts being driven on city streets are being driven in an unsafe manner.
Plenty of observations, complaints and disgruntlements have been lodged here over the years about bicyclists who zoom through red lights, neener, neener, neener. And pedestrians who won’t follow the rules of the road as the rules apply to them. And plenty of other safety hazards no matter what the conveyance.
The biggest deal is that plenty of people care about safe streets. May their tribes increase.