improvement Project
The 8th Street Project is a street improvement project on South 8th Street, from Walton Blvd east to I-540.
From the Interstate to SE “J” St, the project involves constructing an interchange with I-540 and widening from two lanes to five
lanes with curb and gutter. Between SE “J” St. to Walton Blvd, 8th Street will become a four lane boulevard with potential for
on-street parking and wide sidewalks.
Project Progession
| 2003 |
Congress federally earmarked transportation funds for the 8th Street Improvement Project. The City will receive
approximately $31.24 million toward the project. |
| Aug 13, 2006 |
City publishes a request for letters of interest. |
| Jan 26, 2007 |
City accepts full proposal of services from shorts listed consultants: Burns and McDonnell; Crafton, Tull and Sparks;
and Parsons. |
| Sept 25, 2007 |
City of Bentonville contracts with Burn and McDonnell out of Kansas City, MO as the project engineers to begin
preliminary conceptual design. |
| Nov 15, 2007 |
Kick-off Meeting for preliminary design with City of Bentonville, Burns and McDonnell, Arkansas Highway and
Transportation Department (AHTD), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). |
| Feb 28, 2008 |
First public meeting is held at the Bentonville Public Library. |
| June 24, 2009 |
The Engineering and Operational Acceptability Review was approved by AHTD and forwarded to FHWA for
their final approval. The review is a detailed analysis of the need and justification for a new interchange and included
the analysis of four alternatives in the vicinity of the direct extension of 8th Street to the east of Moberly.
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| Aug 20, 2009 |
FHWA approval of the Engineering and Operational Acceptability Review. |
| Apr 27, 2010 |
City Council approved the supplemental agreement allowing consultant to begin survey and preliminary design.
The schedule allows for 24 months to complete the design. |
| July 21, 2010 |
Kick off meeting for design with the City of Bentonville, AHTD, FHWA, and Burns and McDonnell. |
| Aug 9, 2010 |
Surveyors mailed a letter to the property owners informing them that survey work would begin shortly. |
Current Status (Aug 8, 2010)
- The Environmental Assessment (EA)is being reviewed by AHTD and FHWA. The purpose of the EA is to identify
any impacts resulting from the proposed project and specify mitigation, as applicable, to minimize any adverse impacts.
The EA process includes a review of the historic nature of the Bentonville National Guard Armory/Readiness Center located at
109 South 8th Street.
- Field survey work has been ongoing throughout the 8th Street corridor and in the vicinity of the proposed interchange.
Survey work will continue to delineate all existing rights of way, easements, and property boundaries.
- Cultural resources field surveys are about to start to determine the existence of any historic or pre-historic resources.
- Burns and McDonnell and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers are about to start wetland field surveys in order to verify
the amount of wetlands that could be impacted by this project and to make a determination of the type of wetland permit (404)
that will be required.
- The design criteria memorandum is complete and will help guide the preliminary and final design for the project.
- Refining the conceptual design utilizing the City’s GIS topography until the survey is complete.
Upcoming Meetings
A public meeting presenting preliminary (30% completion) design and alignment is
anticipated to occur late 2010 or early 2011. This meeting will allow the public to see how alignment and right-of-way will
impact individual properties. Public notice of the meetings will be provided in several local media venues, including newspaper,
website, utility bills, and television. Property owners on 8th street will be notified via mail.
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