The City of Benton Street Department will be doing work on two streets to make an easier path for kids to walk to school.
With help from the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT), the City is installing a sidewalk on Newcomb Drive and Harmon Drive, near Benton Middle School. Through the Safe Routes to School Program, ARDOT will pay 80% of the cost and the City will pick up the rest, according to John Richey, Director of the Street Department.
On Newcomb Drive, from North St to Harmon Drive, there will be sidewalk on the east side of the road. On Harmon Drive from Newcomb to School Street, the sidewalk will be on the north side of the road. The City held a town hall meeting and sent out flyers about the planning for this project.
Work is already in progress and there will be a lane blocked or else a detour on those streets while work is being completed. There may also be some trees that will be cut to allow for the sidewalk.
The entire project will take about 90 days, weather permitting, so if you don’t live on those sections of the streets highlighted in the map below, consider taking a different street to your destination.
Richey stated that the workers will be there only during the week and they will coordinate to try to work only during school hours.
