Bentonville, AR… In 2021, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art announced that it is expanding its gallery and education spaces by adding 100,000 square feet to the north side of the building. With construction beginning this spring, the safety of patrons utilizing the Razorback Greenway will be affected. In addition, the construction of the new areas will cause the trail to be relocated for future use. Out of an abundance of caution, the City of Bentonville has elected to close NE A Street from NE Park Street to NE Cub Circle to vehicular traffic effective March 28, 2022. The anticipated timeline for the closure is up to two years.
The decision, made by the City’s Traffic and Signage Committee, was ultimately determined based on the safety of citizens in this area and patrons of the existing trail. Annually, this trail segment experiences 450,000 bicycle/pedestrian users. In the same duration, roughly 220,000 vehicles travel this section of NE A Street. The rerouted trail will utilize the roadway during the museum’s expansion construction. Although plans have not been finalized, City of Bentonville staff are working closely with officials from Crystal Bridges on designs for relocating the trail.
Visible wayfinding maps will be posted throughout the duration of construction. City personnel asks all patrons to please respect and acknowledge all signage, fencing, and barriers indicating that work is underway in a particular area and nearby trails may be unsafe or pose hazards until completed. Additional updates and announcements will follow as improvements continue and the construction phase of the project comes to a close.
For additional information, visit the City of Bentonville’s website, www.bentonvillear.com, or call 479.254.2028.
