Downtown projects underway

Broadway to receive diagonal striping in test run

From Oct. 23 to Oct. 28, the city of Siloam Springs will continue a pair of projects in the downtown area. With the implementation of the Downtown Master Plan, the city wants to test out additional angled parking before making a permanent decision. The improvements to Mt. Olive will continue simultaneously.

City staff will temporarily take out (mark out the lines with tape) the parallel spots on the east side of Broadway between Central and Alpine and re-mark angled spots during this time. Staff will also alter the angle of the parking spaces on the west side of Broadway.

While this should not affect business, the city wants its residents to be prepared. If this project is a success, it will add twelve spots in the test area. More sections of angled parking could be added throughout downtown to create more space.

Additionally, the angled parking will narrow the driving corridor through Broadway, naturally slowing down traffic. The city has asked the Siloam Springs Police Department to do some extra patrolling during this temporary parking shift so people will be extra cautious.

During this time, the ongoing project along Mt. Olive should not completely shut down the road to traffic. A contractor began a milling and overlaying project from Kenwood to Tahlequah Street that will drastically improve the quality of Mt. Olive. The downtown detour to Mt. Olive can be used during the project.

How can residents ensure the “test time” runs smoothly and get the most out of the experimental project? The city suggests these tips: 1. Please move your vehicles so city crews can alter the parking lines in the designated area the next morning. 2. Warn downtown customers and visitors that the parking spaces will look a bit different and to be cautious driving downtown. 3. Take inventory of what works and what doesn’t. 4. Pass along any feedback from the experiment so city staff can use it in data collection and decision making.