Planned lane changes coming to Markham Street in Little Rock draw mixed reaction

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Planned lane changes coming to Markham Street have garnered mixed reactions from residents of Little Rock.

City officials said the project will take the right and left lanes near The Oyster Bar and merge them into one on each side while adding on a center turn lane.

The city has been awarded $1 million for construction starting on Woodrow Street and extending to Ridgeway Street. City officials said the goal is to make the area more pedestrian-friendly, while also slowing down traffic, something Antoinette Johnson said would be safer.

“It would also slow down the traffic on Markham because the lanes are a little thinner and allow the businesses on Markham to have outdoor seating,” Johnson said.

Johnson said she’s been a supporter of the project for more than a year. She said Hillcrest is typically where people go for social gatherings, but with this upgrade, she’s hoping Markham businesses will benefit.

“It would be wonderful if we had two commercial areas because historically all of this was pedestrian-oriented,” Johnson said.

Although some say the change sounds convenient for drivers and pedestrians, Hershal Ground said it’s not.

“I think it would put an unnecessary strain on the traffic flow through here,” Ground said.

More information on the project can be found at LittleRock.gov .

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