Rogers Residents To Get First View Of Proposed Road Extension

— Creating more connectivity on the west side of Interstate 540 and directing traffic away from Champions Drive are reasons city officials said they want to build a street connecting the roundabout on Pauline Whitaker Parkway to Pleasant Grove Road.

Residents will get a first look at the route at a public meeting Wednesday, said Nathan Becknell, city engineer. The meeting is from 4 to 6 p.m. at First Church of the Nazarene, 4911 W. Pleasant Grove Road.

Planning staff members will be on hand to answer questions and solicit comments from residents and other interested parties, Becknell said.

The extension to Pinnacle Hills Parkway would move traffic off the two-lane Champions Drive, which runs to the east of Pinnacle Hills Country Club.

"It would be hard to widen Champions Drive," Becknell said. "As a side effect, the five-lane extension of Pinnacle Hills Parkway to Pleasant Grove Road should help economic development in the area."

The project hasn't been designed. The graphic on display Wednesday is a proposed route.

"Right now it's just a line on a piece of paper. We won't know the exact route until the project is designed. We are projecting the road will go something like we have in the graphic, give or take 50 feet one way or the other," Becknell said.

Beth Bobbitt, public relations director for the Walton Arts Center, which owns the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion, said she thinks the road extension will be a good thing for the area. The Walmart AMP is located near the proposed extension.

"It should provide better access to the west side of the interstate. I think it will be great for the music pavilion. It will give those attending the venue more options for arriving and departing for a show. I also think it has the potential to help the area to continue to develop," Bobbitt said.

John George, a spokesman for Hunt Ventures, which owns property in the area, said he is aware the city is considering building the extension.

"I really don't know that I can comment at this point because I haven't seen the plan. Until I see the plan, I have no idea how it will impact Hunt Ventures," George said.

Allyson Twiggs Dyer, executive director of the Visit Rogers, said she is pleased with the plan.

"It will connect two of our shopping and entertainment districts," Dyer said. "I'm glad our city government is always thinking ahead on how to provide better connectivity for residents and our visitors."

NW News on 02/25/2014

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