FAYETTEVILLE — City officials plan to celebrate the start of a $4.6 million construction project on Van Asche Drive today.
The ceremonial groundbreaking will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the southeast corner of Garland Avenue and Van Asche Drive, according to a news release. Parking is available in front of Restaurant on the Corner, 3582 N. Arkansas 112.
The project will extend Van Asche about a half-mile from Gregg Avenue west across an open field to McGuire Avenue, making it a four-lane boulevard with 5-foot-wide sidewalks and a multiuse trail on the south side of the street. The new section of street will tie in to improvements made farther east on Van Asche in 2007. Van Asche will be widened to four lanes -- but without a median -- between McGuire and Garland avenues.
Extending and widening Van Asche is a key part of Mayor Lioneld Jordan's plan for a "box" of four-lane boulevards around the edges of town. Jordan has said the work will make it easier for drivers to travel between the areas around Sam's Club and the Northwest Arkansas Mall.
Fayetteville-based APAC-Central, the low-bidder on the project, will have 15 months from April 7 to complete the project.
Matt Casey, city engineering design manager, said the project will require periodic lane closing on Van Asche under Interstate 540. But, he added, the street will remain open throughout construction.
For more information, call the city Engineering Division at 479-575-8206.
NW News on 03/27/2014