New Interchange Supports Growth
Last year the U.S. Census Bureau named the Northwest Arkansas metropolitan area the nation's 38th fastest-growing area. Such growth has affected local infrastructure and its ability to support the growth.
"Motorists suffered long waits at intersections in Springdale—during peak hours traffic regularly backed up a mile long at the nearest existing I-49 interchange," said Garver Senior Project Leader Ron Petrie. "With the connection of the Don Tyson Parkway to I-49, an alternative to U.S. Highway 412 was created as a new eastwest corridor through the city of Springdale."
The interchange also improves access to the Tyson Foods World Headquarters and Arvest Ballpark, which serves as the home to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the area's minor league baseball team. The project significantly improves the potential of commercial development to the west of the interstate and surrounding the ballpark. Several commercial businesses have already announced they'll be opening in the area.
Due to those pending commercial developments and congestion on Highway 412, it was critical to meet all schedule milestones for permitting, design and construction. Schedules developed at the beginning of the project included construction to be completed in early 2015. Actual opening of the interchange was on July 7, 2014.
"This project is another example of how Garver utilizes its strong relationships with regulatory agencies to meet requirements and deliver a complex transportation project of this size ahead of schedule on a routine basis," said Project Manager Jeff Webb.
Share this article