Northwest Health System in Springdale looks to move clinic

SPRINGDALE -- Northwest Health System plans to move its clinic at Elm Springs Road, nearly doubling its size, increasing the number of doctors and adding urgent care.

The new site at the southwest corner of North 40th Street and Elm Springs Road also would give residents easier access to the clinic from Interstate 49, said spokeswoman Pat Driscoll.

WEB WATCH

To look at an online map of the current and future locations of the clinic, go to: https://www.google.…. For the current location, type “3409 Elm Springs Road Springdale” into the search bar in the top left corner. For the future location, type “North 40th Street and Elm Springs Road Springdale” into the search bar. The new location will be on the southwest corner of the intersection.

The system has 40 clinics in Northwest Arkansas, and plans to open the moved clinic in the first quarter of 2016.

The Springdale Planning Commission will vote on plans for the new clinic at its meeting Feb. 3, said Patsy Christie, city director of planning and community development.

The new, larger facility will help with a growing population and number of patients, Driscoll said.

The facility at 3409 Elm Springs Road is 10,500 square feet, while the new one will be 20,000 square feet, Driscoll said.

The clinic will increase the number of doctors from three to five and will add urgent care, Driscoll said. Officials also will move wound care from Northwest Medical Center-Springdale to the new clinic.

The new location will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.

Plans show doors on the north, east and south sides of the building. It shows a patio to the south, an outdoor plaza to the north and covered drop-off areas on the north and east sides.

The plan shows a monument sign on the corner of North 40th Street and Elm Springs Road with driveway access from both streets. There also are plans for a 71,797-square-foot parking lot with 155 parking spaces.

Northwest Health System is leasing the current facility and will do the same with the new building once a developer builds it, Driscoll said.

All other development in the area has been on the other side of the interstate, Christie said. The Walmart Supercenter at 4870 Elm Springs Road opened in August, and the McDonald's near it opened Oct. 31.

Arvest Bank purchased land in front of the Walmart several months ago, said Lisa Ray, president and chief executive officer of Arvest Bank in Springdale. She said the bank will likely open in 2016.

Infrastructure work and a better economy helped bring development to the area, Christie said. Elm Springs Road was widened between 2010 and 2011. The opening of the Walmart also helped encourage more development, she said.

Mayor Doug Sprouse said he thinks the area around the Elm Springs Road interchange will "blossom" faster than the area around Arvest Ballpark. He expects development to continue on both sides of the interstate.

Development around the interstate is good for Springdale, because it will increase visibility and awareness of the city, Sprouse said. It could also result in more people stopping in Springdale, which could increase tax revenue.

Future infrastructure projects could further increase development in the area, Christie said. The city is working with the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department to widen the bridge over the interstate. Officials hope to bid the project later this year.

The city also will place a temporary traffic signal at the northbound off-ramp of the interstate prior to widening the overpass, Sprouse said. A permanent one will be installed after work on the bridge is completed. The signal is needed, because it is sometimes difficult to turn left from the off-ramp.

Officials also plan to extend 56th Street north to Elm Springs Road, Christie said. That project is probably a few years away.

NW News on 01/27/2015

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