Location and Design Public Hearing June 18, 2024

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), with support by ARDOT consultant Garver, conducted a Location and Design Public Hearing 🔗 to present and discuss the design plans 🔗 and Environmental Assessment (EA) 🔗 for the proposed widening of Highway 5 between N. Reynolds Road (Highway 183) and N. Alexander Road (Pulaski County Line) in Saline County. Proposed improvements include widening Highway 5 to four lanes with a painted median, a curb and gutter to match the adjacent Highway 5 sections to the east and west of the project, a 10-foot-wide sidepath on the north side of Highway 5, and a 5-foot-wide sidewalk on the south. A signalized intersection at Midland Road and upgrades to existing signals at Bryant Parkway have been added to the design.

The EA promotes informed decision making in the development of a transportation solution(s) by explaining the purpose of the proposed action, evaluating social, economic, and environmental impacts, soliciting feedback from the public and decision-makers, and determining whether further analysis is necessary or if the impacts are minimal enough to warrant a Finding of No Significant Impacts (FONSI).

The purpose of this Public Hearing was to present the design plans and EA for the project and to solicit comments. The hearing was held from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at the First Baptist Church of Bryant, 6715 Hwy. 5, Bryant, AR 🔗. Citizens were invited to come and go as they pleased during the hours of the hearing to view the plans and exhibits, ask questions, and offer comments. This public hearing was an “open house” meeting with no formal presentations. Comments must be submitted by July 3, 2024, to be included in the official record.