improvement Project
The 8th Street Improvements Project corridor runs along South 8th Street, from I-540 (US Route 71) west to SW “I” Street. From the Interstate to SE “J” Street,
the project involves constructing a new interchange with I-540 and widening from two lanes to five lanes with curb and gutter. Between SE “J” Street and the west
project limit, 8th Street will become a four lane arterial with a raised median, curb and gutter, and wide sidewalks.
Project Progression
| 2005 |
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.
|
| 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. |
| 2011 |
Throughout 2011, the Environmental Assessment document was under development,
with numerous discussions and drafts submitted to AHTD and FHWA for review. |
| Feb 2011 |
Cultural resource surveys were conducted within the study area. The Arkansas State Historic Preservation
Officer (SHPO) concurred with the survey findings and approved the cultural resources report in July 2011. |
| March 8, 2011 |
Meeting held at AHTD headquarters in Little Rock with representatives from the City of Bentonville,
various AHTD Divisions and consultant personnel. Discussion items included status of the EA, addressing right-of-way and easement
policies, and the addition of improvements to the Hwy. 102/62 interchange to the EA. |
| July 25, 2011 |
AHTD approved the Environmental Assessment – 8th Street Improvements (Bentonville) Preliminary Engineering
- Benton County and submitted to the Federal Highway Administration for review. |
| September 6, 2011 |
AHTD informed the City and consultant that a “legal sufficiency” declaration was received from the FHWA. |
| October 19, 2011 |
FHWA signed the EA, allowing the document to be released to the public for review and plans to begin for a
public hearing. |
| December 15, 2011 |
A Location Public Hearing was held at the Bentonville Downtown Activity Center.
This open-house style meeting was attended by over 125 citizens and interested parties, asking questions of City and consultant team staff members,
and providing comments about the roadway design alternatives. |
Current Status (January 24,2013) - 30% design plans submitted to AHTD and
FHWA for review and comments
- Comments received from the December 15th Location Public Hearing were evaluated and a synopsis report of the
comments is posted on the website for public review.
- With the identification of the 8th Street interchange preferred alternative and corridor location determined,
30% design for the project have been submitted.
- A Design Public Hearing will be scheduled once the design is reviewed by the City and AHTD. This hearing is tentatively scheduled to be held in
Spring 2013 (see below).
- Activities related to right-of-way acquisition will begin in Spring-2013 and continue throughout the
remaining months of design production.
Upcoming Meetings Spring 2013
The City of Bentonville will conduct an open forum Design Public Hearing to discuss the proposed improvements to 8th Street in Bentonville.
This meeting will be conducted to show the detail of the Preferred Alternative, discuss the right of way acquisition process, and present the
anticipated construction schedule. At the hearing, participants can review the proposed roadway and interchange design, the projected impacts
on existing properties, and get information about the property relocation process. City of Bentonville staff and project team members will be
available to answer questions. Additionally, provisions will be made to receive written and oral comments.
Design Public Hearing March 7th 2013
Location Hearing Information
Environmental Assessment Information
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