Highway 71B Corridor
What is this Project?
A study of the 71B corridor, between Cato Springs Road and the north city limits (excluding Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to North St.), is currently underway to identify recommended improvements to the corridor. These will include access management, pedestrian improvements, new signalization and other intersection improvements, aesthetics and branding and congestion management strategies.
In 2019, the City of Fayetteville and the Arkansas Department of Transportation successfully negotiated a transfer of jurisdiction of the existing 71B corridor between the north and south Fulbright Expressway interchanges. This gave the City complete authority to modify South School, Archibald Yell and College Avenue segments of the corridor.
Read more about the 71B Corridor Plan
Why is It Important?
The 71B corridor serves as the major north-south arterial through the central part of the City, and also is a major commercial and retail destination. Maintaining and improving the corridor will allow it to continue to serve mobility needs continue to develop/redevelop as a commercial corridor.
What is the Current Status?
Updated 9/6/2023
The 71B Corridor master plan is complete and available here.
Phase one of the plan is currently underway. The City successfully negotiated transfer of the corridor from Arkansas Department of Transportation to City ownership.
Contracted consultants Garver Engineering and RDG have worked with City staff to develop conceptual plans from Cato Springs Road to Rock Street and from North Street to Township Street.
The City Council authorized Garver Engineering to proceed with detailed design of portions of the corridor at their December 2021 meeting.
Final plans have been submitted to ARDOT for approval. Right of way acquisition is currently underway. Once the property is acquired and approval is received from ARDOT, then the project will be let for bid.
Public Review and Comment
A public meeting was held to discuss this project on Monday, Aug. 15.
Those who are unable to make in-person meetings may review plans and drawings linked on this page. The preliminary plans are available here.
When Will it be Completed?
Updated 11/13/2023
The project is expected to bid in January of 2024. Construction can then begin in March of 2024.
How is it Funded?
Funding for the project comes from the second phase of the Bond issue that voters approved in April 2019.