Numerous developments popping up in Springdale west of I-49

Development in Springdale is expanding east and west of Interstate 49 along Elm Springs Road, much like Fayetteville and Rogers have expanded in recent years.

The westward move began several years ago when Macadoodles opened its first Northwest Arkansas liquor store at the corner of 48th Street and Elm Springs Road. That was followed by a Kum & Go convenience store that opened just east of the I-49 interchange.

The westward growth starts at Elm Springs Road and 40th Street where a new Northwest Medical Center Clinic is under construction. The clinic, offering primary and urgent care services is expected to open in January.

A couple blocks to the west, but still on the east side, a new Whataburger is planned, said Springdale Planning Director Patsy Christy. The Planning Commission approved the restaurant plans last week.

Continue driving west on Elm Springs Road and you run into McDonald’s and Walmart on the north side. A Panda Express restaurant is also under construction.

Arvest Bank has plans to build a new building on the northwest corner of 48th and Elm Springs, across the street from Macadoodles. The bank hasn’t submitted building plans yet, said Mike Chamlee, chief building official for Springdale.

THE WALMART PUSH
The growth in Springdale is part of a trend as evidenced by development on both sides of Interstate 49 between Fayetteville and Bentonville, Christy said.

“It took a driver to get started and the driver here was Walmart,” she said.

Development is expected to continue west to Oak Grove Road where a traffic signal is located. The northwest and southwest corners have drawn interest from developers, she said. The northeast corner was de-annexed from Elm Springs about a month ago, making it more desirable for development because it can now receive sewer service from Springdale, she said.

Christy pointed to traffic counts from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Departments to consider growth potential. The latest counts are about a year old, taken prior to Walmart opening, Christy said. The report shows a daily average of 72,000 vehicles used I-49 north of Sunset Avenue or U.S. 412. North of Elm Springs Road, that daily average rose to 78,000 during the same time period.

On Elm Springs Road, the average daily volume was 27,000 vehicles on the east side of I-49 but dropped to 7,800 on the west before Walmart opened. That indicates motorists are using Elm Springs Road to access the interstate, Christy said, noting the numbers will likely rise because of the increased traffic to Walmart or other new businesses on that side.

Future road projects will likely make the area more desirable to developers. On tap, Christy said, is the expansion of the Elm Springs Road bridge over I-49. That work is set to bid this fall. The bridge will widen from the existing four lanes to six lanes in a partnership between the city and the state highway department. A traffic signal is being installed on the east side of the bridge as part of the project, she said.

The construction will probably begin next summer, she said. This bridge widening project is expected to cost up to $5 million. Mayor Doug Sprouse told The City Wire that the city is funding $1 million of the total amount.

The city’s long-range street plans include the extension of 56th Street U.S. 412, or Sunset Avenue, to Elm Springs Road, Christy said. There is no timeline for when that might happen. She said the extension will create a demand for services and change traffic patterns on the west side of the city.

SAM’S FURNITURE AND SAM’S CLUB
Not all development on the west side of Springdale is around Elm Springs Road.

South on 48th Street, a 30-acre tract is being cleared to become the future home of Sam’s Furniture. The furniture store submitted plans to the city’s building department for a 120,000-square-foot showroom building, valued at $2 million. Chamlee said the plans are under review and a permit hasn’t been approved. The new building will be between 48th Street and the interstate. 

Further south, off 56th Street and near Arvest Ballpark, Sam’s Club plans to build a new store in Springdale. Chamlee said no plans have been submitted yet. The store will be south of U.S. 412. The city lost a significant amount of tax revenue when Sam’s Club closed its Springdale store on Pleasant Street about a decade ago.

Sam’s Club return “is a major tax improvement for the city, no question,” Christy said,

Another area on a watch list for potential development is at the Don Tyson Parkway interchange on I-49. A Walmart Neighborhood Market and a Casey’s convenience store recently opened between 40th Street and the interstate.