A roundabout is planned at the corner of Donaghey and College avenues (schematic shown at right).
If something happens in Conway, there’s a good chance it’s happening along the Donaghey Avenue corridor.
And things are happening.
Running north and south, Donaghey is one of the city’s major arteries, with mainstay institutions like the University of Central Arkansas and Conway Regional Health System anchored along its path.
Now Conway is in the midst of a phased reimagining of Donaghey Avenue that will include three roundabouts, new and updated infrastructure, and significant changes to the bike/pedestrian infrastructure as well. Through public and private sector investments, spending along the Donaghey corridor is well over $100 million.
“That’s so key to the city, all the institutions that are on that road, it’s really key,” Conway Corporation CEO Bret Carroll said. “I’m thinking it’s going to be a really neat project when it’s all said and done.”
In the area under improvement, Donaghey is a two-lane road with a two-way, left-turn lane and 30 mph speed intersecting with Prince Street, Caldwell Street, Robinson Avenue, College Avenue, Bruce Street and Robins Street.
The Donaghey corridor is one of Conway’s most densely populated areas. Among the thousands who inhabit the area are those in the communities of UCA and Conway Regional, which each have significant construction projects underway on Donaghey.
The corridor also provides access to Conway High School and Conway Junior High School. A park and residential areas are also near the corridor.
Traffic was one of the issues on which Mayor Bart Castleberry ran in 2016, and the city adopted a five-year plan for improving traffic flow.
“The thing that people brought to my attention that was missing was streets,” Castleberry said.
A 2019 traffic study report commissioned for the City of Conway showed that Donaghey Avenue carries approximately 10,000 vehicles a day on the north end of the improvement area and close to 17,000 on the south end, with a daily truck percentage of 2 percent.
From Prince Street to Robinson Avenue, the southbound direction is heaviest in the morning peak hour and the northbound direction is the heaviest in the afternoon/evening peak hour.
“It’s a real hot spot,” Carroll said.
Donaghey By the Numbers
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2 phases in the Donaghey corridor revitalization
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3 new roundabouts being added in Donaghey corridor
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$100 million value of UCA, Conway Regional Health System projects on Donaghey corridor
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17,000 vehicles traveling Donaghey daily
Improvements — completed, underway or in the planning stages — include widening, resurfacing or reconstructing segments of road and installing roundabouts, traffic signals, pedestrian bridges, bike paths and walkways.
The improvements are being accomplished in two phases, from Dave Ward Drive to College Avenue and from College Avenue to Prince Street.
As Conway continues to attract new business and promote business expansion, Castleberry said the bike paths and pedestrian walkways can help play a major role in attracting young professionals thinking about relocating.
“Bicycle and pedestrian traffic in Conway — being as our average age in Conway is just over 27 — and driveability and walkability are very important in Conway to that age group. And we’re trying as a city to strive to accommodate not only vehicles but future growth and pedestrian and bicycle traffic.”
The Donaghey project required Conway Corporation to coordinate with utility companies to move, upgrade or replace conduits, drains, pipelines and other infrastructure. The city didn’t want to be digging up the new street surfaces in a couple years to make repairs, Carroll said.
“If they’re going to build a new road or replace a road, what we don’t want to do … is cut it up if we’ve got a water main break or a sewer break,” Carroll said.
Carroll said communication on the project has been “extremely important” because there are so many entities involved.
UCA is building fraternity houses along Donaghey Avenue and a new, $37.7 million, 80,000-SF, Integrated Health Sciences Building is topping out just off the street. The university is moving forward with plans for the $45 million, 98,000-SF Windgate Fine & Performing Arts Center on the corner of Donaghey and Bruce Streets.
To the north, Conway Regional is building a new $13 million, 42,530-SF medical office building and also has a campus master plan that addresses Donaghey in a more purposeful way.
“The Donaghey Avenue corridor is incredibly important to UCA, as it serves as a key entry point to campus for students and visitors alike,” UCA President Houston Davis said. “Since our founding in 1907, we have had a strong relationship with the Conway community. We are excited to see the city make key updates to Donaghey, such as dedicated cycling and pedestrian paths, that will improve usability and safety for our students and campus community.”
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