Fayetteville, ARDOT agree on improvements to major interchange project
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The city of Fayetteville and the Arkansas Department of Transportation met on Tuesday to formalize several agreements to make improvements to the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and I-49 interchange project after years of discussion.
“Probably a little frustration,” said Kennedy McDermott, a commuter in Fayetteville, after hearing about the improvement project coming to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, a road she uses almost every day.
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“That’s how I get to class. And if I’m going grocery shopping, that’s how I get to Walmart and get my groceries for the week,” said McDermott.
She says she is conflicted about the project. On one hand, she says she hopes for the flow of traffic to be improved, but on the other hand, she thinks otherwise.
“I feel like it would slow down traffic and I’d have to leave my house earlier in order to get to class because like it already varies,” said McDermott.
“All directions, there’s pressure, and so this interchange work will alleviate that pressure and alleviate that congestion,” said Chris Brown, public works director for the city of Fayetteville.
One of those agreements the city and ARDOT made focuses on extending 15th Street.
“15th Street will be extended across the interstate. There will be another overpass and so some additional capacity,” said Brown.
According to ARDOT, this includes adding two roundabouts and an underpass structure for the Town Branch Creek and Town Branch Trail. Brown says the state agreed to add 15th Street improvements to the plan if the city paid the additional cost of $1.5 million. Fayetteville will use federal grants to pay for its portion.
The second agreement is to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and the I-49 interchange.
“Wider trail-type facilities ten to 12 feet wide, wider green space,” said Brown.
He says this also includes increasing the lanes to six total from the intersection of Razorback Road towards Lowe’s. Brown says the goal is to bring more safety for residents like McDermott on sidewalks and the roads.
“I’m glad that they’re going to do it. I hate that it took this long,” said McDermott.
Brown says the first phase of the project is expected to begin on 15th Street around spring.
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