Rogers Slates Turn Lanes For Grimes School

ROGERS — Aldermen approved Tuesday buying land on New Hope Road at 13th Street to create a right turn and stacking lanes for Bonnie Grimes Elementary School.

“The city is buying the land, but the Rogers School District is going to buy a piece of the land to expand parking at the school,” said Steve Glass, city director of planning and transportation.

The city bought the land from Tony Steele for $43,400, the property's appraised value.

“This is a joint venture between the city and the School District. The city is building the turn lane on New Hope to ease traffic congestion at the intersection with 13th Street. Stacking lanes will also be built on 13th Street to help with the traffic flow into and out of the school,” Glass added.

“This is a good project for us and the city,” said David Cauldwell, Rogers School District business manager.

“The stacking lanes on 13th street will make it much easier for our bus and drop-off traffic. We are going to actually split the cost with the city on the land. We will use our portion of the land for auxiliary parking at Bonnie Grimes,” Cauldwell added.

Rather than contract the project, the lanes will be built by the city Street Department which, Glass said, will save the city and taxpayers several thousand dollars.

Frankie Guyll, street superintendent, said the lanes will swing out a little on 13th Street allowing him to keep the street lights, rather than put up another street light.

“That’s a nice saving,” Guyll said. “A traffic signal costs about $100,000.”

Guyll adds his street crew will also put a left turn lane at Elmwood Middle School two blocks north of Grimes to ease traffic during the morning and afternoon rush when parents are dropping off children.

“We are donating the land for the extra lane. This will give drivers from the south a lane for turning into the school. We already have a right turn lane for traffic from the north,” Cauldwell said.

There is a concrete drainage ditch that will have to be moved underground to accommodate the left turn lane. The School District has agreed to pay for the concrete pipe that will replace the ditch on the east side of 13th Street for the drainage improvement, Cauldwell added.

The cost of the concrete pipe, or drainage boxes is expected to be about $45,000, Guyll said.

At A Glance

Council Action

Rogers' City Council met Tuesday and approved:

• A $92,606 contract with Pavement Maintenance Unlimited for the an apron and taxiway project at the Rogers Municipal Airport. The majority of the cost is expected to be covered by a federal grant with the city paying about 10 percent.

• A $216,997 contract with Traffic and Lighting Systems for the North Second and Locust streets traffic signal project. The city plans to build a left turn lane on Locust onto Second Street at the intersection.

• A $1,300 grant from the Walton Family Foundation for cardiopulmonary resuscitation education.

• A $25,801 grant from the Arkansas Department of Health, Trauma Systems for Fire Department medical supplies.

• An agreement with Little Flock and Benton County for Rogers to provide ambulance services. Little Flock will pay the Rogers Fire Department $26,000 for the remainder of 2013 and $52,000 for 2014. Benton County has agreed to pay the city $77,000 for the remainder of this year. A contract for 2014 is still being discussed.

Source: Staff Report

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