Board OKs railroad overpass design

Tina Parker/Siloam Sunday Community Services Director Don Clark, right, greeted Dina Espinosa at Tuesday’s board meeting. Espinosa and her friend Sue Klopfenstein were at the meeting to see what option the city would select for the Cheri Whitlock Drive railroad overpass.
Tina Parker/Siloam Sunday Community Services Director Don Clark, right, greeted Dina Espinosa at Tuesday’s board meeting. Espinosa and her friend Sue Klopfenstein were at the meeting to see what option the city would select for the Cheri Whitlock Drive railroad overpass.

"We're still in a daze," Dina Espinosa said, referring to plans for the railroad overpass on Cheri Whitlock Drive.

Dina and Joe Espinosa are one of two families that will be affected by the new overpass, which will cut through their property.

The city Board of Directors approved an overpass option Tuesday that will reroute traffic over the railroad tracks.

In a ranking of the most hazardous railroad crossings in the state, the Cheri Whitlock crossing of the Kansas City Southern tracks ranked 11 out of 2,502.

The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department offered the city four options for an overpass, as well as the option to leave the overpass as is.

City engineer Justin Bland said that Alternate Plan No. 5 "reaches the best balance" of the provided options.

Bob and Joyce Whitaker are the other family affected by the overpass. At the meeting, Bob asked the board to select the plan that is the farthest from his home.

In a unanimous vote, directors approved Alternate Plan No. 5, which will keep the road close to where it is already located and provide connectivity to Lincoln Street and Country Club Road.

The design requires a staged construction schedule over an extended period of time, and temporary closure of Cheri Whitlock Drive near Sue Anglin Drive and Lincoln Street. The estimated cost is $7.2 million.

Director Scott Jones asked AHTD roadway division head Trinity Smith what residents Bob and Joyce Whitaker would see when they look out their front door, which faces north to Cheri Whitlock, and whether their view would be obstructed.

Smith confirmed to the board that their view would be obstructed by an 18-foot-tall wall.

In a public meeting in February, the Whitaker's attorney Glen Kelley said a retaining wall would substantially reduce the value of their home. The Whitakers have three structures on their property: their home, a rent house, and a smaller home that Joyce Whitaker's parents built.

Dina Espinosa was less concerned about her view, and more concerned with how the overpass will affect her husband who has a tendency to wander. She said moving is not an option.

"We're not ready to move -- he's not in any shape to move," she said of her husband.

Espinosa said that, all-in-all, she is OK with the design, but she just wants to be sure her husband, Joe, will not be able to access the bridge when he is out wandering the property.

"Whenever he is outside I sit on the porch," she said. "But I just want to be sure when everything goes in there's a wall so he can't wander out into the road."

Sue Klopfenstein, an Espinosa family friend, said that a small brick wall lines their property and it is what keeps Joe Espinosa from going into the road.

"When they widened (Cheri Whitlock Drive) they took out their brick wall and Joe and Dina paid to put the brick wall back in," Klopfenstein said. "Now, it keeps Joe from getting out there."

"They also need to purchase the land -- they're chopping it up and they need to buy it (all)," Klopfenstein said.

Mike Sims, engineering manager with Gates, said in February that he was concerned that some of the options would not be sufficient for tractor-trailers.

The AHTD's Smith said a 53-foot-long truck and trailer was used to ensure the turn radius is sufficient.

Directors were concerned about the traffic patterns across the bridge and how the flow could negatively impact teenagers who drive in the area.

Director Dennis Brown asked what would happen if a stoplight was erected on the down grade of the bridge at Sue Anglin Drive.

"My concern is if you're coming up over the rise and traffic is stopped," he said. "Especially since we're talking high school kids who will be driving fast. Help me understand how that was taken into account."

Smith said that sight distance was taken into account and that the design would call for flashing lights to warn people of an upcoming stop.

Director Jones asked if there would be a turning lane for drivers who are turning north off of the bridge.

Smith said there were not plans for a turning land at the moment, but it is in the realm of possibility.

"There's a good chance of a left turn there," Smith said.

Director Brown asked what would happen if traffic studies conducted after the bridge's construction show an additional turning lane is needed to turn onto Sue Anglin Drive.

"Traffic counts are gonna increase -- if we need to build one will the AHTD help to build?" Brown asked.

"We have the funds to work with cities that we think fall into the category (of need)," Smith said.

In other business, directors approved:

• An ordinance to amend the city's municipal code for the rezoning of 299 Holly Street, 1602, 2608, 2630, 2635 and 2670 Holly Place and John Brown University from Residential (R-2) to General Institution (G-I). It was approved in a 4-3 vote. Directors Frank Johnson and Bob Coleman voted in opposition. Director Jones chose to abstain from the vote because he is a paid employee by John Brown University. Because Jones abstained it was counted as a no.

• A resolution to utilize Transportation Alternative Program federal aid funds for the city Parks and Recreation Department. The funds will allow construction of a multi-use gravel trail on the south side of City Lake. It was approved in a 7-0 vote.

• The approval of a lease agreement with DaySpring for dark fiber cable to run between its distribution center and warehouse. The lease rate is $128 a month beginning on Jan. 1, 2015. It was approved in a 4-3 vote. Directors Brown, Jones and Coleman voted in opposition.

• Approval of an easement for SourceGas Arkansas so gas lines along Sager Creek can be relocated. The construction will be along the parking lot of Hoffman's Chiropractic Clinic on Broadway Street and in a small section of Twin Springs Park. Construction should be completed by the start of the Dogwood Festival. If it is not, SourceGas said they would clean up their construction and close the Thursday before. It was approved in a 7-0 vote.

General News on 03/22/2015