We, the undersigned do hereby request additional improvements of state HWY 72 down to Pea Ridge to include the addition of a 4-way traffic signal at the intersection of E Central & Woods Creek Rd.

We look to slow the speed of traffic to protect our children and city residents. With the additional traffic, commercial & residential construction, the past, present, and future growth, it has become increasingly more dangerous to exit the neighborhood safely. The offset pavement will seemingly toss your car towards the ditch when exiting woods creek along with the obstructed view from the telephone poles already makes it tough to exit. During rush peak traffic hours this is compounded on down 72 towards Pea Ridge. 

I have been in contact with Bentonville Planning and Public Works personnel, Mayor Orman, and the regional engineer for ARDOT.  Contrary to some rumors and speculation, there are no plans to improve this highway but for some minor turn lane improvements further east.  And those are not scheduled until 2024 so long as funding is available.

As this is a State Highway, ARDOT will have primary authority over any projects, working in conjunction with the City of Bentonville.  The first step recommended by ARDOT is to ask the City to request ARDOT undertake a Warrant Study of this area to begin developing solutions.

As with any governmental project, funding will be an issue and ARDOT will expect Bentonville to assist.

This leads to the critical reason for this outreach.  The surrounding POA Board members and residents believe the best way to address this issue is to join with other areas POAs and property owners to ask the City of Bentonville to request this Warrant Study by ARDOT.  In addition, we strongly believe Benton County and the City of Pea Ridge should also join in this request, as this is a concern for their citizens and property owners as well.

A uniform and unified request should be welcome by the State Highway Commission, and we also hope it would pave the way for the Federal Department of Transportation to provide funding.

Update 7/28/22: We currently have the support of the Woods Creek POA, Kensington Poa, Benton County Judge Barry Moehring, and currently presenting to Mayor Stephanie Orman, Pea Ridge, and other surrounding municipalities and business respectively formal letters of support. We then hope it will collectively be presented to Regional Planning.