Markham resurfacing scheduled
Dear Resurfacing Researcher: With reference to resurfacing Cantrell Road, I am curious about plans for resurfacing West Markham Street from about Stifft Station west to Shackleford Road. My old but beloved convertible shakes, rattles and rolls taking the scenic route west instead of Interstate 630. Markham is so familiar, slower and less stressful than the interstate. — Jan
Dear Jan: Prepare to be happy. The news comes from Jon Honeywell, Little Rock’s public works director, via city spokesman Aaron Sadler.
Markham Street from Pine Street to University Avenue is a resurfacing recently approved by the Board of Directors. No exact time frame, but the contract sets a completion date by December 2025.
Another project on Markham from Kavanaugh Boulevard to Pine Street will include improved sidewalks and pavement resurfacing. Final design is being completed with construction planned in the coming year.
Vanity plate on a Subaru: LSN2GOD.
Dear Sir: Who and what determines the priority of attention to potholes in Little Rock? Does calling 311 move one up faster? Thank you. — Holy Holes!
Dear Holy: We generally edit out exclamation points, leaving them to text messages written by teenage girls. But in this case they work, because it’s spring, and there was one brutal week of winter cold, and then the rains, and then the jonquils and the potholes.
Did we mention Jon Honeywell and Aaron Sadler? They recommend calling 311. Or download the 311 app to request that a pothole be filled.
Requests are submitted directly to Public Works, and crews are scheduled to make the fix. Typically, there is a two- to three-day turnaround time after a 311 request. Since Jan. 22, we are told, 45 city team members — six crews total — have been working daily to repair potholes.
Vanity plate on a Toyota: IWRK4ME.
Dear Mahatma: Since Little Rock moved the ingress to Cooper Orbit Road farther west, it has created a left-turn backup off Kanis Road. Any rumblings of creating a left-turn lane? — Kooped on Kanis
Dear Kooped: William Henry is the city’s traffic engineering manager. A nifty title for sure. Although we just call him Bill.
We once called him, in print, the city’s chief traffic wizard, but got yelled at by a reader unhappy with the sequencing of downtown traffic lights. No good deed…
Mr. Henry tells us the city traffic guys are aware of the left-turn matter, which can be fixed with roadway improvements and a traffic signal.
To that end, a project is under development for the intersection.
Dear Mahatma: While eastbound on Interstate 630, the vehicle ahead of us was weaving, speeding and slowing. My fabulous babe told me to go around. When we passed, there were two people arguing in American sign language. — Ken
Dear Ken: We’re speechless.
Vanity plate on a Honda: LDYFRIEND.