One of Fayetteville's busier roads will be expanding, possibly by more than 50 feet, to help alleviate congestion.
The Fayetteville City Council is unanimously in favor of a plan that will widen Garland Avenue from 25 feet to 83 feet. On Wednesday the Arkansas Highway Department approved the plan, but will make some suggestions for the city within the next couple weeks.
The city needed approval from the Arkansas Highway Department, because the street doubles as Highway 112. The project would cost about $6.5 million dollars. About $1.5 million of it will come from the state and the rest from the city. The proposed widening would include two lanes in each direction, a 10 foot wide median in the middle, along with a bike lane and sidewalk on each side.
People who live, work and play in the area have mixed reaction about the project. For businesses like the Sunrise Café, they are concerned it's going to take away their parking lots.
"I'm concerned about the traffic coming right up to our door, and how it's going to affect our business," said Tina Harris," café manager.
However, across the street, the Fast Trax gas station says the expansion will help business. "Traffic will move faster, and will be easier to get in and out, without having to wait so long," said manager Tami Harmon.
Down the road at the Trinity United Methodist Church, Pastor Terry Gosnell says something needs to be done to alleviate the traffic, because some of his parishioners have been in accidents just trying to get out of the drive way. "The reality is it's congested here, it can be kind of dangerous when cars are going and going and it's just jammed especially when the students come back," said Gosnell.
The Fayetteville City Council is unanimously in favor of a plan that will widen Garland Avenue from 25 feet to 83 feet. On Wednesday the Arkansas Highway Department approved the plan, but will make some suggestions for the city within the next couple weeks.
The city needed approval from the Arkansas Highway Department, because the street doubles as Highway 112. The project would cost about $6.5 million dollars. About $1.5 million of it will come from the state and the rest from the city. The proposed widening would include two lanes in each direction, a 10 foot wide median in the middle, along with a bike lane and sidewalk on each side.
People who live, work and play in the area have mixed reaction about the project. For businesses like the Sunrise Café, they are concerned it's going to take away their parking lots.
"I'm concerned about the traffic coming right up to our door, and how it's going to affect our business," said Tina Harris," café manager.
However, across the street, the Fast Trax gas station says the expansion will help business. "Traffic will move faster, and will be easier to get in and out, without having to wait so long," said manager Tami Harmon.
Down the road at the Trinity United Methodist Church, Pastor Terry Gosnell says something needs to be done to alleviate the traffic, because some of his parishioners have been in accidents just trying to get out of the drive way. "The reality is it's congested here, it can be kind of dangerous when cars are going and going and it's just jammed especially when the students come back," said Gosnell.
