ARDOT to foot the bill on Military Road landscaping

ARDOT to foot the bill on Military Road landscaping

City will save $ 825,000 on road- widening project by going with state plan

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Arkansas Department of Transportation has agreed to include Marion’s ideas for landscaping Military Road during the widening process — minus a few feet.

City Planner Ed Cain told the City Council that they received a letter from ARDOT on March 7 indicating their willingness to scale the project down from five lanes to three lanes, and have agreed to include a landscaped median with bike and turn lanes at no extra cost to the city.

However, the state will only pay for a three foot section of grass on either side of the highway behind the sidewalk instead of the seven feet the city asked for.

“They indicated they would be happy to build that section for us with the exception of the width of the landscaping on either side behind the sidewalk,” Cain said. “So what they are saying is that if we accept that, then they will build everything and it won’t cost the city.”

The state was planning to widen the road to five lanes from the intersection of I55 to the railroad tracks where Military Road meets Highway 77.

The city sent back a request asking the state to change it to three lanes with a raised median, turn lanes onto the side streets, decorative lighting, landscaping, and bike lanes and sidewalks on each side.

Cain said the state informed them that if they still want the eight feet of landscaping that it will cost the city $825,000.

“Basically we are getting everything we asked for except for that,” Cain said.

“So it gets down to is that extra eight feet on each side worth $825,000?”

Cain said the landscape and design architect that the city hired to look at ways to enhance that corridor told him that three feet on each side will still be enough to accomplish their goal to spruce the roadway up.

“He said he thinks we can still use the three foot landscaping strips effectively,” Cain said. “We won’t be able to plant any big trees.

But we could still plant some crape myrtles or something. Basically we are getting everything we asked for except for that.

We’re getting the bike lanes on each side and the sidewalks would be paid for.”

Mayor Frank Fogleman said the city knew they would have to pay for any additional landscaping anyway, and is pleased with the state’s response and offer to work with them.

The state has also agreed to install the conduit for the street lighting and the rough end plumbing for the irrigation.

“For me, I’m happy that we got the letter back,” Fogleman said. “They want to cooperate with us. I think it has worked out for us about as well as you could expect.”

Councilman David Bigger agreed.

“Military Road was slated to be five lanes,” Bigger said. “I think our efforts to keep that from happening should be applauded to make sure our corridor stays like what it is and not be bulldozed. I think it was a good effort.”

The council agreed to accept the state’s proposal and will send an acknowledgment letter so the state can begin the design process which will likely be some time this fall.

By Mark Randall