FAYETTEVILLE — The third phase of a project to improve Zion Road is scheduled to begin on Monday, Jan. 31.
The improvements are designed to create an improved east-west connection between Highway 265 and College Avenue. The work includes widening the road to make room for a center turn lane, a six-foot sidewalk and a 10-foot bike trail. Also, a mini roundabout is planned at the intersection of Zion and Old Missouri Road.
The project is part of the 2019 transportation bond program, but had been on the back burner since the previous voter-approved bond in 2006. That program called for a full makeover of Zion from College Avenue to Crossover Road, but the work stopped at Vantage Drive when the money was instead reallocated to fund a series of other higher priority transportation projects around town when bid prices were reduced due to the recession.
Phase 1: Vantage Drive to Park Lake Apartments
The first phase of work began in early 2021, and included construction of a new water main, sanitary sewer main, storm drain and work on the roadway widening and realignment from Vantage Drive to Park Lake Apartments.
Phase 2: Park Lake Apartments to Old Missouri Road
Phase two started in November, and included continued roadway widening and realignment, and installation of a storm drain and sanitary sewer. Portions of that stretch of road are still closed.
Phase 3: Intersection of Zion Road and Old Missouri Road
The third phase of work focuses on the intersection of Zion and Old Missouri to allow for the construction of a mini-roundabout.
The intersection will be closed 24 hours a day and seven days a week through March. The work also extends east of Park Lake Apartments to Cape Dutch Avenue for storm drain and sanitary sewer installation. That area will also be closed through March.
Zion will be open to local traffic only from Vantage to Park Lake Apartments from the west, and to Taliesin Lane from the east, according to a news release. Non-local traffic is asked to use East Joyce Boulevard as a detour – via Vantage and Crossover – during construction. Old Missouri will be open to local traffic only north of Joyce. City staff said access will be maintained to the Cornerstone Animal Hospital driveway on Zion.
Phase 4: Old Missouri Road to North Crossover Road
Subsequent phased closures will be necessary from Old Missouri to North Crossover to allow for the completion of the sanitary sewer installation within the middle of the existing roadway. Residents on the side streets off Zion will retain access to their properties for the duration of the closures, and access to businesses will be maintained.
Zion Road Improvement Project
Source: City of Fayetteville
