Springdale aldermen advance two road resolutions

SPRINGDALE — Aldermen took steps Monday toward more street connections.

Aldermen forwarded two resolutions related to road projects to the City Council at Monday’s council committee meeting.

The first resolution is for an engineering design contract for a project that would connect Don Tyson Parkway to Johnson Mill Boulevard via 56th Street. Rick Evans, chairman of the street and capital improvement program committee, said drivers can already get from Don Tyson Parkway to Johnson Mill Boulevard, but this project would provide a more direct route.

The project has already received money for the design from the Surface Transportation Program - Attributable, said Brad Baldwin, director of engineering for Springdale. States and localities can use money from the Surface Transportation Program for various transportation projects, according to the Federal Highway Administration website.

The contract for the design is not to exceed $503,549, of which $402,839 is from the program, $70,496 will come from Springdale and $30,212 will come from Johnson, according to meeting documents. Mayor Doug Sprouse said they have been working with Johnson on the project.

The second resolution would show that the city is willing to apply for money from the program to design an extension of Don Tyson parkway from 56th Street to Arkansas 112. Baldwin said the project would allow drivers to travel from Thompson Street to Arkansas 112 via Don Tyson Parkway.

Baldwin said Springdale would like to get $300,000 from the program, leaving the city with $75,000 of the cost. He said during the meeting that this resolution would help get the project in

the “pipeline.”

Evans said the two projects could help improve traffic flow in those areas. Sprouse said it would provide connectivity.

“It’s all about moving more people,” Sprouse said.

The city already has multiple road projects under way. However, they have been delayed due to recent rainfall, Baldwin said.

For example, a project to extend Don Tyson Parkway from Hylton Road to Habberton Road came to a halt a couple weeks ago, Baldwin said. A lot of groundwater was flowing from north to south in that area.

He said Monday evening that work had not yet restarted.

The project also includes two roundabouts and should be finished this fall.

The city is widening 56th Street from Arvest Ballpark to Bleaux Avenue, Baldwin said.

Two roundabouts are also part of that project.

He said the project should be finished between late fall and the end of the year.

Another project is the widening of Don Tyson Parkway from 40th Street to Carley Road, Baldwin said.

They plan to put asphalt on the north lanes in August.