Project History
A
Major Investment Study (MIS) was initiated in 1996 within the urbanized area of
northwest Arkansas to evaluate the various concepts available to alleviate
existing traffic congestions on Highway 412. A working group was developed to consider several construction and
non-construction strategies to implement an improved transportation system. This group ultimately concluded that a new location alignment north of
Springdale best met the overall project purpose and need as developed by the
working group, as well as numerous local objectives. This conclusion was adopted by the local Metropolitan Planning
Organization Policy Committee.
An
Environmental Impact Study (EIS) to determine the location of the proposed
bypass began in 1998 with a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). This DEIS studied four new location alignments along with the No-Action
Alternative and improvements along the existing highway corridor. The AHTD and the FHWA completed the DEIS in January 2002.
DEIS
Location
Public Hearings were held in April 2002 to display DEIS study information and
maps of the alignments, and to receive comments on the DEIS. Comments received at the public hearing suggested two additional
alignments for consideration that were not documented in the DEIS. These additions were a "split interchange" alignment that uses
an existing segment of I-540 as a part of the proposed bypass, and a
"northern" alignment.
The
split interchange concept was not considered feasible by FHWA. However, a
decision was made to prepare a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(SDEIS) to evaluate the "northern" alignment. Four alignments were
studied and compared within the center portion of the proposed project. The SDEIS was finalized in May of 2004 and SDEIS Location Public
Hearings were held in June 2004.
The
AHTD and FHWA evaluated the alignments in the SDEIS for social, economic and
environmental impacts, traffic analysis, and conceptual design. This information
was used in the decision making process along with the comments received from
resource agencies, public officials, and the public for the identification of
Line 5 as the Preferred Line through Segment B-E. The Preferred Segments previously established and
shown at the SDEIS Location Public Hearings within Segments A-B and E-F were
also confirmed to carry forward into the FEIS.
Revisions to Preferred Segment A-B were made in the western interchange with
existing Highway 412 as a result of comments made at the DEIS Location Public
Hearings, and to the alignment south of Brush Creek Road because of electrical
transmission lines. Comments received at a public meeting held in September 2004 indicated that most residents
were in favor of these proposed revisions, which were then adopted and analyzed in the FEIS as a part of the Preferred Line.
An
in-depth analysis of the Preferred Line was conducted by AHTD in cooperation
with the FHWA and the results of this analysis are also documented in the FEIS
issued October 6, 2005.
After a review of the FEIS and the comments
received, the FHWA issued a Record of Decision on February 15, 2006 that
approved a Selected Alignment Alternative for the proposed bypass. Click here to see a map of the
Selected Alignment Alternative. Design
Public Hearings were held in June 2008 to received public comment on the
preliminary design of the project.
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