Street
Improvement Projects
$173,500,000
Bentonville continues to be one of the fastest-growing cities in America with population estimates over 100,000 people by 2040. Current weekday traffic nearly doubles with incoming school and business traffic. The need to manage current traffic is significant and bonds are how we prepare and manage growth.
Potential Projects - As a part of our Master Street Plan, our engineers have conducted a city-wide needs study that identified and ranked projects by safety, congestion reduction, bike, and pedestrian movements, economic development impact, cost, and construction duration. The final plans may vary from the following descriptions.
Street Bond Project Update Schedule
POTENTIAL PROJECTS LISTED IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
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South Main Street and Drainage Improvements
This project will widen the sidewalks and improve the roadway from SE 2nd Street to SW 8th. It will also provide drainage improvements in this area.
Status - Construction is nearly complete. Street is open.
The project consists of constructing approximately 0.55 miles of Bright Road between SW Regional Airport Boulevard and SW 28th Street into a three-lane roadway with pedestrian/bicycle facilities consistent with the City’s Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan. The project will also include improvements to the existing traffic signal at the SW Regional Airport Boulevard and Bright Road intersection. This project would extend northward the existing Bright Road corridor and provide an important connection between two arterial roadways, SW Regional Airport Boulevard and SW 28th Street. This connection will result in an improvement to traffic congestion on the adjacent north-south corridors such as SW I Street and Greenhouse Road.
Status Update - Street is open to the public.
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SW 28th Street - SW Featherston Rd. to SW I St.
The project consists of improving approximately 1.28 miles of SW 28th Street between SW Featherston Road and SW I Street by widening existing portions and constructing new portions to provide four lanes with a raised center median. The project will include pedestrian/bicycle facilities that are consistent with the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. Several public comments were received during the public input process requesting improved SW 28th Street connectivity to I Street. This project would provide this connectivity, completing the connection between Greenhouse Road and SW I Street for many residential neighborhoods and schools along this corridor. Additionally, this proposed connection would improve traffic on congested east-west corridors such as SW Regional Airport Boulevard and SW 14th Street.
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S Walton Blvd. and 5th (Walmart Store 100 Entrance)
The existing intersection of Walton Boulevard and Walmart Entrance already operates at an overall intersection LOS F. It ranks in the top 10 for both existing delay and queues, with queues extending beyond 2,000 feet. It is recommended that dual left-turn lanes be added on the eastbound and westbound approaches for vehicles turning onto Walton Boulevard. The added capacity is expected to improve traffic operations and safety at the intersection.
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SW Gator Boulevard - S Morningstar Rd. to SW Gator Blvd.
The project consists of constructing approximately 0.57 miles of SW Gator Boulevard between S Morningstar Road and the existing end of SW Gator Boulevard into a three-lane roadway with pedestrian/bicycle facilities that are consistent with the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. Public comments were received during the public input process requesting SW Gator Boulevard connectivity to S Morningstar Road. This project will complete the corridor by providing a continuous east-west connection from SW H Street (Highway. 112) to S Morningstar Road. This connection will provide much-needed pedestrian facilities between residential neighborhoods and schools and will improve traffic congestion on adjacent east-west corridors such as SW Regional Airport Boulevard.
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SE Walton Blvd. and SE J St. Intersection
The existing intersection of Walton Boulevard and SE J Street already operates at an overall intersection LOS F. Existing queues are the 5th worst in the city, extending beyond 2,000 feet. Additionally, the intersection is in the top 10 for number of crashes. To improve safety and operations at the intersection, it is recommended that dual left-turn lanes be added for northbound and southbound vehicles turning onto Walton Boulevard, and an additional through lane with a dedicated right-turn lane be constructed on the northbound approach. The added capacity is expected to reduce queues and delays by more than 50 percent.
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SE Walton Blvd. and SE Medical Center Pkwy. Intersection
The existing intersection of Walton Boulevard and SE Medical Center Parkway already operates at an overall intersection LOS F. Queues extending over 2,000 feet currently exist and only stand to inhibit traffic flow further without action. To reduce queues on the north and south legs of the intersection, dual turn lanes onto Walton Boulevard are recommended. A dedicated northbound right-turn lane is also recommended. These improvements reduce delay at the intersection by more than 55 percent. Additionally, the southbound queue is reduced by more than 80 percent.
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SW 14th St. and Been Rd./Tunbridge Dr. Intersection
The existing intersection of SW 14th Street and Been Road/Tunbridge Drive already operates at an overall intersection LOS F. As part of ARDOT’s Highway 102 Study; improvements are taken from the publicly available preliminary designs. The improvements include a new dedicated northbound right-turn bay.
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E Battlefield Boulevard - E Central Ave. to Water Tower Rd.
The project consists of improving approximately 0.71 miles of E Battlefield Boulevard between E Central Avenue and Water Tower Road into a three-lane roadway with pedestrian/bicycle facilities consistent with the City’s Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan. Numerous public comments were received during the public input process requesting intersection improvements at E Battlefield Boulevard and E Central Avenue. This project would improve the intersection geometry and potentially signalize the intersection if further analysis showed it would warrant a traffic signal. The existing E Battlefield Boulevard is a narrow two-lane road with open shoulders and minimal pedestrian facilities. This project would bring the roadway up to current collector roadway standards and provide much-needed pedestrian facilities along this corridor. Additionally, the existing bridge across I-49 would be widened on both sides to provide pedestrian sidepaths on both sides of the bridge.
This portion of the project consists of improving approximately 0.38 miles of Greenhouse Road between SW Regional Airport Boulevard and SW 28th Street to a five-lane roadway with pedestrian/bicycle facilities consistent with the City’s Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan. Greenhouse Road is a vital north-south corridor between SW Regional Airport Boulevard and SW 14th Street. The existing Greenhouse Road is a narrow two-lane road with minimal existing pedestrian facilities. Numerous public comments were received during the public input process requesting Greenhouse Road be improved. This project improves this section of Greenhouse Road to arterial street standards while also bringing much-needed bicycle and pedestrian facilities to this vital corridor along the city's west side.
This portion of the project consists of improving approximately 0.61 miles of Greenhouse Road between SE 28th Street and Glen Road to a five-lane roadway with pedestrian/bicycle facilities that are consistent with the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. Greenhouse Road is a vital north-south corridor between SW Regional Airport Boulevard and SW 14th Street. The existing Greenhouse Road is a narrow two-lane road with minimal existing pedestrian facilities. Numerous public comments were received during the public input process requesting Greenhouse Road be improved. This project improves this section of Greenhouse Road to arterial street standards while also bringing much-needed bicycle and pedestrian facilities to this vital corridor along the city's west side.
Status Update - The design portion of this project is being started with a Grant from ARDOT. Plans are being reviewed by staff in Centerton and Bentonville.
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J Street Interchange - Tiger Blvd. to Interstate 49
The project consists of constructing a new interchange on I-49 and extending NE J Street northward from Tiger Boulevard across Interstate 49 for approximately 1.10 miles. This will require construction of two bridges, one across Shewmaker Creek and one across I-49. The proposed NE J Street will be four lanes with a raised center median and pedestrian/bicycle facilities that are consistent with the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. This project will provide access from I-49 directly to NE J Street, which currently serves as a major north-south arterial street throughout the entire city. This will result in a more direct route from I-49 to major attractions such as Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Scott Family Amazeum, and the downtown districts.
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Rainbow Curve Improvements
The existing intersection of Walton Boulevard and Highway 12, commonly known as Rainbow Curve, currently has an overall intersection LOS E, which will continue to deteriorate to an LOS F prior to the 2040 Design Year. The recommended improvements primarily consist of installing a flyover bridge to remove the westbound, left-turning traffic from the intersection. With the recommended improvements, an LOS C will be achieved for the projected 2040 traffic.
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Walton Blvd. and Central Ave. Intersection
The existing intersection of Walton Boulevard and Central Avenue already operates at an overall intersection LOS F. It currently ranks in the top 10 for the existing delay, number of crashes, and existing queues, with queues extending past 2,000 feet. To improve operations and safety at the intersection, it is recommended to construct dual eastbound and westbound left turns, longer storage bays eastbound and westbound, and dedicated northbound and southbound right-turn bays. These improvements reduce delay by 50 percent and reduce queues by more than 65 percent.
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Water Tower Road - SE 6th St. to E Battlefield Blvd.
The project consists of improving Water Tower Road for approximately 0.51 miles between SE 6th Street
and Battlefield Boulevard. The proposed roadway will be a four-lane road with a raised center median and a roundabout at the intersection of Water Tower Road with Battlefield Boulevard. The project will include pedestrian/bicycle facilities that are consistent with the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. Water Tower Road serves as a north-south frontage road along I-49 to connect to the 8th Street interchange and provide access from I-49 to NWACC and residential neighborhoods. During the public input process, several public comments requested that Water Tower Road be improved. This project will bring Water Tower Road up to arterial street standards and improve the intersection with Battlefield Boulevard in order to meet the anticipated traffic demands.
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SW Regional Airport Blvd. and SW I St. Intersection
The existing intersection of SW Regional Airport Boulevard and SW I Street already operates at an overall intersection LOS F. Queues currently extend past 1,500 feet, and crash rates are higher than the statewide average on the northern leg. Improvements are recommended on every leg of the intersection. It is recommended that dual lefts and dedicated right-turn bays be constructed on each approach. It is also recommended that a six-lane cross-section along Highway 12/SW Regional Airport Boulevard begin west of the intersection with SW I Street and continue east to the intersection with Walton Boulevard. These improvements reduce delay at the intersection by 70 percent and reduce queues more than 75 percent.
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Tiger Boulevard Overpass - McCollum Dr. to NE Grammercy Rd.
The project consists of extending Tiger Boulevard approximately 0.61 miles from McCollum Drive eastward over I-49 via a bridge overpass to tie into NE Grammercy Road. The proposed Tiger Boulevard will be four lanes with a raised center median and pedestrian/bicycle facilities that are consistent with the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. Several public comments were received during the public input process requesting improved connectivity of Tiger Boulevard across I-49. This project would remove the barrier of I-49 and provide a continuous east-west arterial route for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists across the city's entire width, resulting in reduced traffic congestion for other east-west routes.
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SW I St. and SW 41st St. Intersection
The existing intersection of SW I Street and SW 41st Street currently operates at an overall intersection LOS A, which will deteriorate to an LOS F by the 2040 design year. The intersection received the 10th most traffic-related comments of any location in the city. The main concerns are with bicycle and pedestrian safety and side street delay at the unsignalized location. With increasing volumes due to nearby community attractions and new residential development, additional intersection control is recommended. While adding a signal is one option, a roundabout is a preferred alternative for intersection control to improve safety and traffic operations.
Status Update - ARDOT is reviewing if a signal is allowed.
The existing intersection of SW Regional Airport Boulevard and S Vaughn Road received the 11th most traffic-related comments out of all locations in the city. The existing geometry does not meet current standards, and traffic operations will only deteriorate with expected volume increases. With the Northwest Arkansas National Airport nearby and new developments in the area, changing the geometry of the intersection to improve safety and operations is a priority. The preferred intersection control type is a roundabout, which has proven effective at improving safety and traffic operations at similar intersections.
Status Update - The design engineer is being selected.
Wave 2 Projects - Status: Available funding will be reviewed for these projects in May of 2024 to determine if design work can begin.
The project consists of improving approximately 1.12 miles of McCollum Drive between Ivy Circle and the end of the existing McCollum Drive into a three-lane roadway with pedestrian/bicycle facilities that are consistent with the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. The existing McCollum Drive is a two-lane road with open shoulders and minimal pedestrian facilities. This project improves this section of McCollum Drive to collector street standards while also bringing much-needed bicycle and pedestrian facilities to this corridor. McCollum Drive currently serves as a frontage road paralleling I-49 and will become an even more significant north-south corridor with the construction of the proposed Tiger Boulevard overpass and the J Street interchange.
The project consists of improving approximately 0.28 miles of SW Redbud/SW 10th Street between SW E. Street and SW A Street into a two-lane roadway with a raised center median and pedestrian/bicycle facilities that are consistent with the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. During the public input process, several public comments requested improved connectivity between SW Redbud Street and SW 10th Street. This project provides that connectivity by constructing the roadway connection between the two roads, resulting in one collector roadway corridor from S Walton Boulevard to SE J Street for vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
The existing intersection of SW 14th Street and Walton Boulevard already operates at an overall intersection LOS F. As part of ARDOT’s Highway 102 Study; improvements are taken from the publicly available preliminary designs. The improvements include an additional through lane along Highway 102 in each direction, dual northbound and southbound left-turn lanes, dedicated right-turn bays for southbound, eastbound, and westbound, and a channelized right-turn northbound.
Wave 3 Projects - Status: Available funding will be reviewed for these projects in May of 2026 to determine if design work can begin.
This project consists of realigning approximately 0.72 miles of Greenhouse Road north of Glen Road to align with SW Elm Tree Road. The proposed section of Greenhouse Road would be five lanes with pedestrian/bicycle facilities that are consistent with the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. Several public comments were received during the public input process requesting improved connectivity at SW Elm Tree Road with SW 14th Street. Additionally, public comments requested an improved signal at the current Greenhouse Road and SW 14th Street intersection. This project addresses both comments by aligning the two arterial roadways (SW Elm Tree Road and Greenhouse Road) to provide a continuous arterial corridor with a new signalized intersection at SW
14th Street.
The project consists of constructing approximately 0.84 miles of McCollum Drive into a three-lane roadway with pedestrian/bicycle facilities between the end of the existing McCollum Drive and NE J Street, where it turns sharply east. This project will provide connectivity to NE J Street, thereby creating a continuous north-south frontage road along I-49 from E Central Avenue to the proposed J Street interchange. This project will also serve to remove local traffic from the interstate and provide much-needed pedestrian/bicycle facilities that are consistent with the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan along this corridor.
The project consists of constructing approximately 0.29 miles of Medical Center Parkway from the existing pedestrian/bicycle facilities intersection with SE 28th Street to a connection with SE S Street using a three-lane roadway section that is consistent with the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. This project will remove the offset intersections of SE S Street/SE 28th Street and Medical Center Parkway/SE 28th Street by aligning Medical Center Parkway and SE S Street. This will create a single intersection with SE 28th Street, thereby creating a continuous north-south corridor from the Uptown District in Rogers to SW 14th Street near the new Walmart Home Office campus. The project would require signal improvements at the SE 28th Street intersection and a multi-barrel box culvert to accommodate drainage and a tunnel for the Razorback Greenway to pass under the road.
The project consists of constructing approximately 1.12 miles of O Street between SW 28th Street and SW 14th Street into a three-lane roadway with pedestrian/bicycle facilities that are consistent with the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. This project, in conjunction with the Bright Road project, will extend the existing Bright Road corridor northward from SW Regional Airport Boulevard, thus providing a continuous north-south corridor from SW Windmill Road to SW 14th Street. The O Street project will provide traffic congestion relief on the adjacent north-south corridors such as SW I Street and Greenhouse Road.
The existing intersection of Walton Boulevard and SE 28th Street currently operates at an overall intersection LOS E, which will deteriorate to an LOS F by the 2040 design year. Crash rates on 28th Street are more than four times higher than the statewide average on the eastern leg, and queues over 1,000 feet are currently observed. Additional westbound lanes will help reduce queuing, a major contributor to rear-end collisions and risky behavior. Dual westbound left-turn lanes and a dedicated westbound right-turn lane are recommended. These improvements stand to reduce queues on the westbound leg by 50 percent, extending the signal's service life and improving the overall safety of the intersection.
The existing intersection of SE 28th Street and SE J Street already operates at an overall intersection LOS F. The intersection ranks in the top 10 for existing delay, queues extend to nearly 2,000 feet, and it is one of only seven signalized intersections with a serious or fatal crash at the intersection. To improve operations and safety at the intersection, it is recommended that new dedicated right-turn bays be constructed in all four directions and dual left-turn lanes along 28th Street for vehicles turning onto SE J Street. These improvements reduce both delay and queues by more than 60 percent.
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SW A Street
SW Walton to SW 8th Street - The project consists of improving approximately 0.70 miles of SW A Street between Walton Boulevard and SW 8th Street to a four-lane roadway with pedestrian/bicycle facilities consistent with the City’s Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan. The project also includes intersection improvements where SW A Street intersects both SW 14th Street and Walton Boulevard. SW A Street is a vital north-south corridor into the heart of the downtown district, and the existing road along this section is a two-lane, open-shoulder roadway with minimal pedestrian facilities. This project will bring this section of SW A Street to current arterial street standards and provide the pedestrian/bicycle facilities that are much needed for this downtown entry corridor.
SW 8th to W Central - The project consists of improving approximately 0.57 miles of SW A Street between E Central Avenue and 8th Street into a two-lane roadway with on-street parking and pedestrian/bicycle facilities that are consistent with the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. SW A Street is a vital north-south corridor into the heart of the downtown district. The existing roadway has gaps in the pedestrian/bicycle facilities in an area with a high volume of pedestrian and bicyclist traffic. Additionally, portions of the existing roadway have failing pavement, no curb and gutter, and disorganized on-street parking. This project will bring this section of roadway up to downtown collector standards by adding or improving pedestrian/bicycle facilities and providing a uniform roadway with organized on the street
parking.
Latest Drawings
The project consists of improving approximately 0.74 miles of Town Vu Road between Gower Court and SW Tater Black Road into a three-lane roadway with pedestrian/bicycle facilities that are consistent with the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. The existing Town Vu Road is a narrow two-lane road with open shoulders and minimal pedestrian facilities. This project improves this section of Town Vu Road to collector street standards while also bringing much-needed bicycle and pedestrian facilities to this corridor that provides access to Bentonville West High School.