NEVER A SLOW DAY: Road Projects Continue

CITY HASN’T HAD TROUBLE WITH WORK FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS

By Vernon Tarver

Posted: November 21, 2009 at 4:28 a.m.

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BENTONVILLE — At the rate Bentonville continues to grow, street work never seems to end.

Transportation Engineer Mike Churchwell oversees all road and street projects in Bentonville and never has a slow day on the job.

That’s the way the he likes it.

“It’s exciting for me,” Churchwell said. “I like what I do and when my projects start and get going and when they’re done, it’s really something to lay your eyes on it. I’m kind of a visual person anyway and I like to see good projects when they are done.”

Lately, finding road projects hasn’t been a problem. In fact, the city hasn’t had trouble with that for more than 20 years. But fi nding the funds to support the projects wasn’t always easy, Churchwell said.

“One of the things during the 1980s and ’90s was just the tremendous amount of growth here,” Churchwell said. “And with that type of capital growth, the first thing you’ve got to have is utilities.”

Utility infrastructure took precedence.

“There just wasn’t that much money for street projects,” Churchwell said.

Thanks to a bond passed by the voters in 2007 — which included $85 million in street funds — money for street projects isn’t the primary concern anymore. Finding the time to get to all the projects may be.

City crews are working on four major projects under construction and another seven in the design phase. This does not include the Eighth Street project, which is being paid for with federal funds.

Churchwell said the job closest to completion is Eighth Street between “I” and Arrowhead Streets. The project is adding sidewalks and street lights to the fi velane road and is 75 percent complete. The project is expected to be complete by the end of January.

Other projects underway include Arkansas 72, Arkansas 102 and Southeast 28th Street. All are expected to be complete by the end of 2011.

“With the highway projects I can’t be sure because they’re under the highway department’s control,” Churchwell said. “We’re working with them on those projects but I’ve got to (wafte) a little on saying for sure when they will be completed.”

Many projects in the design phase are months or years from breaking ground. Others are close to getting started such as the Southwest “I” Street project. Bids were opened Thursday and are expected to be awarded in December. Another project close to getting underway involves East Central Avenue. Improvements are planned between “J” Street and the square. Work is expected to start this spring.

The next major construction project should be on Northeast “J” Street.

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