What’s all the buzz on Garland?
Reporter: Raya Clay
Where did all of the loud noise, construction workers, and orange cones come from? More importantly, what’s all of the buzz going down on Garland Avenue? This is a question that many residents are curious to know. The City of Fayetteville [http://www.accessfayetteville.org/government/projects/cone_patrol/index.cfm] started working on the expansion of Garland Avenue on May 29. According to City of Fayetteville engineering employee, Chris Brown, “This six million dollar project has not made Garland residents the happiest people in Fayetteville.” The construction has truly taken a toll on residents of Fayetteville.
Residents that travel up Garland to get to campus, give personal testimonies about the construction and how it affects them on a day to day basis. Living off of Garland can be hassle, whether driving in a vehicle, or catching the University of Arkansas transit. Ashley Klein, junior, stated, “I live on Garland and the construction is such a hassle, while traveling to the U of A campus for work, I’m almost always 10-15 minutes late.” Keauna Smith, rising sophomore, stated, “I wish that I didn’t have to deal with construction on campus, then when I try to travel home, there is more construction.” The construction slows down traffic and it also interrupts the homes of residents who have a home on Garland Avenue.
The construction affects residents tremendously in their everyday lives, but according to Brown it will be very beneficial once it is completed. The end results will include a two main highway that will be wider and include bike trails for pedestrians who want to walk or ride bicycles. “Essentially the end result will be a more safer and faster route. It will especially assist the traffic coming from the University of Arkansas on football game days.” Brown has predicted this project to be finished in late 2013 or early 2014.