ROGERS — The redesign of what will be the intersection of First Street and Monte Ne Road as well as an extension of Oak Street to that intersection could have a major impact on traffic in the downtown area and the area surrounding Heritage High School.
Aldermen are expected to review a plan Tuesday to amend a contract with McGoodwin, Williams & Yates to redesign the intersection into a roundabout and provide an entrance for Oak Street. The firm will receive $220,000 for the design.
At A Glance
Rogers City Council
When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Council Chambers, Rogers City Hall, 301 W. Chestnut St. Enter through the door on the northeast side of the building.
On the agenda:
• A $96,922 contract with Scurlock Industries for 78 reinforced concrete boxes for the Regional Sports Park. The boxes will be used to run the creek in the sports park under Dixieland Road.
• A $170,650 contract with Jacobs Engineering for design of moving a portion of Walnut Street near Lake Atalanta. The project will straighten some curves and improve the water quality of the creek running into the lake. The project will be paid for with street money.
• Adopting changes in the schedule of uses in the city zoning ordinance.
• Adopting the 2012 drainage manual.
• The $498,062 purchase of two pumper trucks and $759,102 for a ladder truck for the Fire Department.
• Authorizing an interlocal cooperation agreement for hazardous material response service in Benton County.
Source: Staff Report
“When the old bird seed factory was torn down we thought this might be the time to redesign the intersection and build a short section of Oak Street from Second to First street,” said Lance Jobe, a city engineer.
The Bob’s Bird Seed building was just west of Christ Church along the railroad tracks, where First Street bends to become Oak Street.
Widening First Street from New Hope Road to Arkansas Street and realigning and widening Monte Ne Road are two of the major street projects slated for construction within the next year.
“We roughed out a basic design to give to McGoodwin so they would have an idea of what we want. At this point we don’t really know exactly where the roundabout will be and how the streets will align with the intersection,” Jobe said.
Extending Oak Street should help traffic flow and could be used by school buses leaving Heritage High School on Fifth Street, Jobe said.
Oak Street is a two-lane residential street with no curb and gutter. The street plan, shows Oak Street is scheduled to become a collector street with four lanes at some point.
“There are no plans to improve Oak Street right now. That project is down the road,” Jobe said.
Alderman Mark Kruger, a member of the council’s Transportation Committee which will review the plan, said he favors the project.
“I think it’s a good idea. Main Street Rogers and others have really improved historic downtown, but I believe there is still a lot of potential to develop downtown,” Kruger said.
The increased traffic flow on First Street and Monte Ne Road should bring more traffic downtown, he said.
“If it’s done right I think it will improve access to downtown and will be a small catalysis for more improvement to our downtown,” Kruger said.
Alderman Gary Townzen, also a member of the Transportation Committee, said he favors the project as well.
“I think it will be very beneficial for downtown and will be beneficial to the high school,” Townzen said.