Gates were erected on driveways in a commercial development between North Curtis Avenue and Carr Street this week, blocking through traffic.
Nathan See, superintendent of the Pea Ridge Street Department, said Townsend Way and the driveways through that large scale development are privately owned.
"That is not a city street. It is a private drive ... it was not built to city standards per the developer," See said. "Part of the road that goes all the way through is a parking lot. Townsend Way makes a loop back to the south to the bank."
See said current city street standards require compaction tests, a 30-feet wide street from back of curb to back of curb, six inches of base and three inches of asphalt.
"If the city were to accept a road that doesn't meet standards, and it started falling apart, it would mean a lot of money coming out of the taxpayers' pockets," See said.
Traffic has increased on the east-west driveway from Carr Street to North Curtis Avenue since the opening of the Neighborhood Market.
Heavy traffic use wears the pavement, See said.
The large scale development for that section was approved by the Pea Ridge Planning Commission in 2005. It was being built by Bob Abercrombie, who filed bankruptcy in 2007.
See explained that blue street name signs indicate a privately-owned drive or lane, according to the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. He said green street name signs are used for streets owned and maintained by the city.
General News on 09/17/2014