2 public meetings set for Highway 71B project in Fayetteville

The city of Fayetteville will host two studio sessions to discuss design elements for the northern part of the 71B Corridor project, near the Northwest Arkansas Mall. The public meetings will allow attendees to discuss ideas and draw them on maps with city planners and designers for the city’s consultant, RDG Planning and Design of Omaha, Neb.

The meetings will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 15) and Wednesday (Jan. 16) at Christian Life Cathedral, 1285 E. Millsap Road. The meetings are part of a project to improve a 4-mile segment of U.S. Highway 71B through the city.

“These studio sessions give a lot of freedom for people to make suggestions,” city planner Harry Davis said. “Nothing is set in stone at this point, so we want to hear your ideas for the corridor’s future.”

Garner Stoll, director of development services for the city, said the consultant is interested in retail and how the mall and the surrounding area will fit into the plan. While the meetings will be focused on the northern segment of Highway 71B in the city, they also will also look at how the area as a whole will fit into the region, he said.

The project to improve U.S. Highway 71B, between the northern city limits to North Street and Rock Street to Cato Springs Road, started in summer 2018 and is expected to be completed in summer 2019. In July, the city hired consultant RDG to help with the plan. As part of the $153,066 contract with the city, RDG will include engineering firm Garver and economist Gruen Gruen + Associates.

An online survey for the project also is available to provide input.