13-05-2025
Fayetteville starts $10 million summer-long Maple Street Improvement project
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — 'Road closed' and 'detour' signs were put up at multiple intersections along Maple Street in Fayetteville on Monday morning, as crews began construction and are set to revamp a portion of the thoroughfare this summer.
From Gregg to Leverett avenues, crews will repave the existing two-lane roadway and implement a variety of safer bike- and pedestrian-friendly amenities, opening Maple Street back up to traffic when students return to the University of Arkansas in August, Fayetteville's active transportation manager Matt Mihalevich said. Then, during the summer of 2026, crews will shut down Maple Street from Leverett to Garland avenues to complete similar improvements along that stretch of the road.
'We're working together to accomplish this pretty significant project and major improvement for both the city and the university,' Mihalevich said.
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There will be a two-lane bike path along the south sidewalk from the Razorback Greenway to Garland Avenue with plants separating the cycle track and the street, Mihalevich said. Even further from the street, an 8-foot-wide 'Senior Walk' sidewalk will be built, which will be able to hold 'five to six' years-worth of University of Arkansas graduates' names.
'We have the 40-mile Razorback Greenway that's just on the eastern edge of campus, just past Arkansas (Avenue) along the railroad tracks, and then we have the campus, university, over 30,000 students,' Mihalevich said. 'There is not actually a trail connecting those directly, so what this project will do is provide that direct connection.'
Crosswalks will be improved as well, with motion-activated signals being installed, eliminating the need for bikers or walkers to push a button indicating they want to cross Maple Street, Mihalevich said. The crosswalks will be raised above the street surface with wider stripes, with hopes of making it easier for cars to see the crosswalk, Mihalevich said.
Will Richardson, a Fayetteville resident who bikes to work daily, said he's happy to hear the city is investing in increased safety for cyclists. He said he has to remain diligent when crossing Maple Street on the Razorback Greenway.
'I pretty much always have to stop here to make sure that a car's not flying by,' Richardson said. 'A lot of people tend to speed on this stretch as well, and so you've got to watch out for yourself and be defensive.'
There will be upgraded traffic signals and improved storm drainage.
The improvement project is more than a decade in the making, with the inability to secure funding delaying the start date, but a grant will help pay for a big portion of the $10,943,640 estimated cost.
The city of Fayetteville was awarded a $25 million grant through the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant, $7.5 million of which will be used for the Maple Street improvement project. The University of Arkansas is paying $2.25 million, and the city is contributing $1.25 million, paid for by the 2019 Transportation Street Bond.
While the construction may cause headaches, Richardson understands and is excited for the finished product.
'I don't think anyone likes construction,' Richardson said. 'It's a necessary evil in a place that's growing as quickly as Fayetteville does.'
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