Highway 549, roundabout one year old
The Bella Vista Bypass opened up from the north end of Bentonville to the Highlands in Bella Vista May 17, 2017 — just over one year ago.
Currently, it’s a two-lane stretch that is expected to eventually become the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 71, connecting Arkansas and Missouri without forcing highway traffic through Bella Vista.
Arkansas Department of Transportation spokesman Danny Straessle said that, in that time, the Department of Transportation has started a project — with a $27.5 million contract with Kolb Grading — to complete the northbound set of lanes, expected to be completed late 2020.
That contract, he said, was initially projected to cost $50 million, but the DOT offered an alternate bid for asphalt, which came in significantly cheaper. Already having most of the overpasses built, he said, also kept the cost far lower than the $55 million that went into the existing portion.
Additionally, he said, the DOT has put out traffic counters on the bypass to see what sort of use it’s getting. Currently, he said, it averages 7,500 cars per day.
“When we opened that last segment from 72 East in Hiwasse to 71B, we didn’t know what the traffic was going to be,” Straessle said. “That’s showing that a lot of folks are finding use for that.”
It’s working well, he said, despite some initial concerns about the roundabout that connects U.S. Highway 71, Arkansas Highway 549 and Walton Boulevard.
The Bentonville Police Department’s records division reported that, in the first year, the roundabout saw 26 accidents — though it is worth noting that this only includes reported accidents.
The traffic circle, he said, is ideal for providing immediate access, though it will be removed when the bypass is complete. In its place will be a $40 million single-point urban interchange.
“The project’s been great,” he said.
Sean Matlock, transportation project manager with MoDOT, said that his department has applied for an Infrastructure for Rebuilding America grant that, if approved, could provide federal funds to complete the Missouri portion of the highway.
“We would absolutely love to be able to build that and finish I49 in Missouri. It’s definitely a needed project and we’re looking for ways to get it funded,” he said.
Bella Vista resident Alexus Richardson said she uses the new stretch of highway regularly to get between her home and her job.
“Basically everything,” she said.
She’s yet to have any significant issues with the roundabout, she said, and she appreciates that it keeps traffic moving.
Another Bella Vistan, Betty Kimmel, said she has had issues with the traffic circle but they almost all boil down to drivers ignoring signs and simply not exercising caution.
“You have to be doubly careful,” she said.
Brian Seal said the bypass is a huge improvement over what we had before. He works in a shop on Fishback Road in Hiwasse, he said, and works with heavy trucks hauling dirt. Before this stretch of road opened, he said, he would often get to the shop by driving into Bentonville and heading through Centerton.
This saves plenty of time and fuel, he said.
“I use that bypass all the time,” he said. “I stay on 49 and it’s six minutes instead of 26.”