SW Bright Road Wins American Society of Civil Engineering's Large Project of the Year

In 2019, the City of Bentonville hired Ecological Design Group (EDG) to perform civil engineering and design services for the SW Bright Road project in Bentonville, Arkansas. The intent of this project was to create a street expanding north where it would connect to the already existing SW 28th Street, creating an important arterial connection for walkers, cyclists, and drivers alike within the City of Bentonville’s street’s system. In addition, SW Bright Road would also serve as the gateway into the new Creekside Park project, which was designed by EDG concurrently with SW Bright Road. Through interdepartmental collaboration with the City of Bentonville Streets and Parks Departments, EDG designed a uniquely functional street while creating a beautiful new space for the community.  

EDG’s initial concepts were focused on creating a low-impact street design that felt like an extension of the park. As a collector street, the extension of Bright Road from SW Regional Airport Boulevard to 28th street would provide a much-needed connection along with access to the planned 28th street public park, now known as Creekside Park. This new connection would include a round-about at the intersection of SW Maple Drive and incorporate a side path 12' wide trail from 28th street to SW Regional Airport Boulevard. The Bright Road improvements would act like an extension of the park design while collecting stormwater and utilizing native vegetation.  

The key to this entire project was the interdepartmental collaboration of the City of Bentonville Streets and Park's Departments.

As the entrance to a large new community park, it was important that SW Bright Road reflect the city’s interconnected park system and provide a sense of place. EDG’s sustainable design option promoted this look by creating a winding community path, eye-catching landscaping, and strategically interweaving stormwater infrastructure amidst these park-like features. The key to this entire project was the interdepartmental collaboration of the City of Bentonville Streets and Park’s Departments. With EDG concurrently designing the proposed park, arrangements were able to be made for the City of Bentonville Parks and Recreation Department’s to maintain the proposed native plant installation for SW Bright Road, which was a major component of EDG’s design option. This interdepartmental coordination is what led to the unique approval to move forward with EDG’s green street design.  

The SW Bright Road project had a budgeted cost of $4.45M and ended up costing $4.75M. The project’s original completion date was set for June 2023 and was substantially and completed date of July 2023. Other consultants that participated in this project were HP Engineering, CEI Engineering Associates, MTA Engineers, Toole Design, and Peters and Associates.  

The design of SW Bright Road goes above and beyond to ensure that not only were the City of Bentonville’s initial needs and code requirements met, but that the project met those needs in a creative and efficient way. Rather than sending stormwater along hard surfaces to drain straight into a pipe, SW Bright Road showcases the benefits of the interface between landscape and engineered designs. It does so through beautifully landscaped bioswales and strategic curb cuts designed to collect and treat stormwater within the center of the road. This is a concept that allows stormwater to have significantly more time to infiltrate into the soil, thus reducing the amount of water sent downstream and saving valuable space in downstream pipes.  

This project sets a precedent for future projects because of its stormwater strategy. This strategy is not often seen in municipal projects and encourages other cities to think outside the box and design in a way that is healing to the environment.  

Post-construction, the Bentonville community has embraced the look of their new road, and many walkers, cyclists, and drivers enjoy the daily use of the road and sidewalk without realizing that their new route also offers many ecosystem services. The SW Bright Road project exceeds Bentonville’s original goal of connecting the community within street infrastructure by connecting the community to the natural environment. This is accomplished by using an ecofriendly means of mitigating stormwater through bioswales and curb cuts, incorporating strategic engineering design with the landscaping, and creating a park-like aesthetic and use for the road. These benefits and more are what make Bright Road the exceptional green design that it is.  

The SW Bright Road project was a missing link within the City of Bentonville master street plan. It provided a much needed vehicular and pedestrian connection within the city’s urban fabric. We hope to continue this kind of work where we can collaborate, innovate, and pioneer resilient design.