HomeMy WebLinkAboutmemo Voyles to Malone on NLRTO:
MEMORANDUM
Walter Malone, Little Rock Planning Department
FROM: Robert Voyles
DATE: February 13, 2012
SUBJECT: Adding the Chester Street Bridge to the Master Street
Plan
The North Little Rock Planning Commission has voted to support an
amendment of our City's Master Street Plan adding a new bridge to the
Master Street Plan that would connect Riverfront Drive at or near Karrot
Street on the north bank and Chester Street on the south bank.
Arguments for such a bridge are many. The transportation models of the
region have long indicated the need for an additional bridge crossing in the
downtown area to distribute traffic and to serve future needs.
Recently, our Mayor asked for the Commission's recommendation on the
proposed bridge. A primary concern is the economic impact that the region
will experience with the loss of the Broadway Bridge. This bridge serves
many trips and carries twice the traffic as compared to the Main Street
Bridge. The Main Street Bridge is not constructed to be a high volume
facility as the downtown revitalization success of both River Market and the
historic Argenta area have become pedestrian centers and not designed for
excessively large volumes. The expansion of the State House Convention
Center has reduced the capacity on the south by routing two-way traffic onto
Scott. On the North, Main Street was modified to two way traffic to generate
a more livable and special purpose place. Today, that area is becoming a
special destination place for people and the proposed Chester Street Bridge
would allow for traffic to be route to Pike Avenue, a major commuter route
rather than forcing more commuter traffic through the core downtown. A
Chester Street Bridge would then support livability issues for both sides of
the river. The AHTD anticipates that replacement of the Broadway Bridge
will take approximately two years but we anticipate construction to take
three years. This is a very long time to be without a major river crossing and
the congestion will likely cause investment decisions to be redirected to
locations further from the urban core.
The second major concern is the economic impact the loss of the Broadway
Bridge will have on the region. The AHTD as being in a state of "design
obsolescence" and will be demolished in 2012 or 2013. In addition, the State
has indicated the need to replace the 1-30 Bridge after reconstruction of the
Broadway Bridge. An additional bridge crossing would provide some relief
and means to redirect traffic to alternate routes. The addition of the Chester
Street Bridge is most justified as a relief facility during the removal of both
the Broadway Bridge and the 1-30 River Bridge.
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