Drainage ditch delays sidewalk build
A 500-feet section of sidewalk on the north side of West Pickens Road (Arkansas Highways 72/94) in front of Arlington Hills and Wellington subdivisions may be finished using federal aid.
A drainage ditch running north and south running under the highway complicated the plans by the developers for constructing the sidewalk.
Mayor Nathan See said the project, if approved, would be funded 80% federally and 20% locally. Of those local funds, the developers for the two subdivisions provided cash in lieu of construction for a total of $14,000.
The City Council approved a resolution allow the city to apply for the funds.
The city’s guidelines require developers to construct sidewalks along their developments. See said the developers were unable to get permission from the Arkansas Department of Transportation. The sidewalk is along the right of way of Arkansas Highway 72 and State Hwy. 94 (West Pickens Road).
“We were going to do a pedestrian bridge but ARDOT said no because they didn’t want it elevated,” See said, explaining that the sidewalk had to be on compacted ground. He has since visited with ARDOT officials who have signed off on a plan to use culverts to allow a sidewalk to be constructed over the deep ditch.
The project would begin approximately 200 feet west of the intersection of Bergman Road, St. Clair Street and West Pickens Road and extend 339 feet to the west, said Dustin Phy, city community development director.
See said the work is a Transportation Alternatives Project, which involves the city applying
for funding through the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission. He said there are several classifications, including Carbon Reduction Plan.
“We went into each to see which could fund it,” he said.
Regional Planning were scheduled to do a site tour for all projects submitted by area cities seeking the funding, Phy said. Scores will be given to the various projects, and votes will be taken later on which projects to fund.
See said the decision for funding has not yet been announced.