DARDANELLE, Ark. — Drivers who travel Highway 7 through Dardanelle will have a chance Tuesday evening to see proposed changes to one of the city’s busiest roads and tell the Arkansas Department of Transportation what they think.
ARDOT will host a public meeting Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Dardanelle Community Center, located at 2059 Highway 22.
The project focuses on Highway 7, also known as Union Street, from the Arkansas River bridge to the intersection near Taco Bell, according to Dardanelle Mayor Jimmy Witt.
Plans outlined in ARDOT project records call for widening the roadway to provide 11-foot travel lanes and a 12-foot center turn lane, along with intersection improvements, sidewalks and drainage upgrades. The project covers approximately six-tenths of a mile.
It’s a substantial investment. ARDOT’s latest project schedule estimates the construction contract at $20 million to $30 million and lists the project for 2029. The cost is a planning estimate that could change as the project develops.
Witt discussed the upcoming meeting during a recent Dardanelle City Council meeting, explaining that ARDOT plans to have a rendering available so people can see what the finished roadway is expected to look like.
He emphasized that the meeting isn’t just for Dardanelle residents.
“It’s anybody that travels through Dardanelle,” Witt said.
The mayor said people will have an opportunity to look over the plans, better understand how the proposed changes will work and share what they like or dislike about the design.
Witt encouraged a strong turnout, saying the more people who take time to review the plans and discuss the project beforehand, the better prepared the community will be when construction gets underway.
Residents and other interested travelers will also have additional time to submit feedback after Tuesday’s meeting.
ARDOT will accept public comments until 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Comments can be submitted online through ARDOT’s project information page, or a comment form can be printed and mailed to ARDOT’s Environmental Division, P.O. Box 2261, Little Rock, AR 72203-2261.
Anyone with questions about the project or who needs accommodations to participate in the meeting can contact ARDOT representative Matt Strawn at 501-569-2281.
