Mayor Charles Roberts is encouraging residents to submit public comments to the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) in support of adding a sidewalk to the Magnolia Street (Highway 35) overpass in Rison as part of the agency’s Draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for Federal Fiscal Years 2027–2030. The public comment period remains open through July 28th.
Comments may be submitted by mail to
Ms. Keli Wylie, P.E.
Assistant Chief Engineer – Program Delivery
Arkansas Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 2261
Little Rock, AR 72203
or by email to [email protected].
The draft plan is available for public review on ARDOT’s website, and printed copies may also be requested through the department’s Program Management Division.
Although the Highway 35 overpass is located within the Rison city limits, it is part of the state highway system and is maintained by ARDOT, meaning any improvements to the structure must be approved and completed by the state.
Roberts has identified pedestrian safety on the overpass as a concern since taking office. While a sidewalk exists along the north/east side at the top of the bridge, there are no connecting sidewalks leading to it.
As a result, pedestrians must either walk inside the guardrails near traffic or outside the guardrails along a narrow path bordering a steep embankment.
The overpass was constructed in 1937 to carry Highway 35 over the Union Pacific railroad tracks and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in May 2021.
In encouraging public participation, Roberts said he believes improving pedestrian access across the overpass would benefit residents who regularly walk between areas of the city and could increase foot traffic if a safer route were available.
He also said he has personally experienced the challenges of crossing the bridge on foot.
While Roberts is specifically asking residents to support the addition of a sidewalk, the public may submit comments on any portion of the Draft STIP before the July 28th deadline.
According to ARDOT, the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program is a federally required four-year planning document that outlines highway and transit projects across Arkansas.
The plan includes regionally significant roadway, bridge, safety, intersection improvement and transit projects developed in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration.
