Conway Voters Approve Bond Rededication for Street Improvements

A site plan for Central Landing in Conway, a shopping center on the site of the city's old municipal airport along Interstate 40.

With more than 75 percent of the vote on each question, Conway voters approved the rededication of a 1/8-cent sales tax for various road projects, including two tied to a proposed shopping and lifestyle center.

With just more than 78 percent of the vote, 1,847 votes, the first issue — pertaining to the issuance of refunding bonds, not to exceed $7.5 million, for debts already on the books — passed. There were 520 votes, about 21.9 percent, in opposition.

The second issue, pertaining to the issuance of capital improvement bonds, not to exceed $21 million, passed with a 79 percent majority, 1,867 votes, while 21 percent, 496 votes, was in opposition.

There were 2,367 votes cast on the first question and 2,363 cast on the second question, according to the Faulkner County Clerk’s Office. A deputy county clerk previously told Arkansas Business the special election’s cost was estimated at $2,500.

The capital improvement bonds will fund three road projects, including two tied to Central Landing, a mixed-use redevelopment of the 151-acre municipal airport.

The projects are an overpass that will cross Interstate 40 and connect the Conway Commons with Central Landing, and a four-lane boulevard connecting Central Landing with Oak Street.

The pending $6.1 million sale of the land for Central Landing, a joint venture by Conway Development Corp. and Jim Wilson & Associates of Montgomery, Alabama, is contingent upon the city providing four-lane access from Central Landing to Oak and Harkrider streets.

The money from the sale of the old municipal airport will be used for the $30 million airport in the Lollie Bottoms that opened this month.

The final project deals with a new southern interchange in Conway and its connection with Sturgis Road.

The approval of these bonds is expected to free up enough general street improvement dollars to replace two stoplights on Dave Ward Drive, east of I-40, with roundabouts. The improvements will directly affect the proposed Lewis Crossing shopping center proposed at the southeast corner of I-40 and Dave Ward Drive.