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Cherokee Village mayor outlines ARDOT bridge replacement, detour routes and schedule
Summary
Mayor reviewed a state-funded bridge replacement in Town Center, advised drivers on preferred local detour routes, said ARDOT is responsible for signage, and reiterated the contractor faces a $7,000/day fine if traffic is not restored within the contract window.
The mayor of Cherokee Village on Thursday gave residents a detailed update on a state-funded bridge replacement that has closed a Town Center crossing and prompted local detours.
In a report to the council, the mayor said the project is funded by state and federal grants and involves replacing the existing bridge with concrete box culverts and a raised, widened roadway and sidewalk. She asked that through-traffic use Sequoia Ridge Road, Highway Drive and Skyline Drive, and noted Oki Drive is also a suitable two-lane alternative. "These are narrow city streets with many houses on them not designed for the amount of traffic that the state highway sees," the mayor said, urging drivers to use caution.
The mayor said the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) is responsible for signage on the state highway, but the city is working to place additional message boards and signs on local streets to reduce confusion. She said plans and drawings for the project have been available on display at City Hall and cited the job number mentioned in ARDOT materials as 051 171.
Council members were told the work is phased: the southern bridge under construction is slated for completion this year, while a northern bridge near the Flathead side of Town Center is planned for 2025. The construction contract gives contractors a 90-day window per bridge after closure to return traffic to the roadway before fines begin; the mayor said the contract specifies a fine of $7,000 per day after that allowance.
Why it matters: The closure reroutes local traffic through residential streets and could increase congestion and noise in neighborhoods. The mayor described efforts to coordinate signage with ARDOT and to post information locally so that residents and visitors can find safer, wider detour options.
The council did not take formal action on the bridge project during the meeting; the mayor said she will continue to work with ARDOT and request additional local signage.
The meeting packet and project drawings are available for public viewing at City Hall.
