ROGERS -- The City Council accepted a matching grant Tuesday from the Walton Family Foundation for a bypass to a section of the Razorback Greenway where a Rogers pedestrian was struck and killed in February.
The $900,000 grant will allow the city to build a 52nd Street bypass for the trail system, Nathan Becknell, city project manager, said. He said the bypass will extend the trail away from the street. A trail signal also will be added where the section crosses Stoney Brook Road.
Council Action
Rogers’ City Council met Tuesday approved:
• A contract with Crafton, Tull & Associates for water and sewer design of the extension of Southgate Road from Rainbow Road to Arkansas 112.
• A contract with Crafton, Tull & Associates for design of the storm sewer system on Walnut Street between Eighth Street and Dixieland Road.
• A contract with Crossland Heavy Contractors along with CEI Engineering Associates for construction of a bridge and a portion of the New Hope Trail.
• A contract with Crossland Heavy Contractors along with CEI Engineering Associates for the construction of the Village on the Creeks Trail.
Source: Staff Report
Jennifer Bikel, 40, of Rogers was hit and killed by a vehicle Feb. 3 while running on the trail section following 52nd Street, according to police records.
Records show Bikel was on the sidewalk when she was struck by Joseph Farnan, 53, of Rogers. Farnan was turning right out of the Village on the Creeks shopping center.
City officials have been working on bypassing the sidewalk Bikel was struck on for about a year, Becknell said. He said the city submitted its application for the Walton Family Foundation grant in December.
Becknell said in order to complete the Razorback Greenway the stretch of sidewalk follwing 52nd Street was used. He said city officials always planned to build a bypass around the sidewalk after the entire greenway was completed.
The sidewalk will remain in place but the bypass will offer pedestrians another option, Becknell said.
Mayor Greg Hines said the foundation grant was needed to complete the $1.6 million bypass.
"This is something users as well as representatives have been talking about for years," Hines said. "It will enhance the trail in this region."
The trail will move along Osage Creek instead of a road, Hines said. He said it also will connect pedestrians to the Village on the Creeks business district.
City Council members also approved their portion of the $1.6 million project Tuesday. A contract with Crossland Heavy Contractors of Columbus, Kan., also was approved at the time.
Becknell said the city's $900,000 match for the project will come from sales tax revenue the city receives from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department.
The project should be completed by the end of the year, Becknell said.
NW News on 04/13/2016