Due to Success of Trial Run, Two Blocks of President Clinton Avenue to be Closed to Vehicles on Ongoing Basis

Little Rock, AR (30 September 2005) The success of the President Clinton Avenue street closures on Friday and Saturday nights in August have prompted City officials to announce that the program will continue.  Beginning Friday, September 30, Clinton Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic on Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00pm to 4:00 am.

“We were pleased with the results of the trial run in August,” said Interim Assistant City Manager Bryan Day.  “In visiting with the Police Department as well as River Market merchants and patrons, we received a great deal of positive feedback about the closure.”

The closure was prompted by an increase in the number of cars cruising through the district causing traffic to back up along Markham for several blocks.  After the street closure started in August, the problem disappeared.

On Friday and Saturday evenings at 9:00 pm, barricades will be erected at the western terminus of President Clinton Avenue (at LaHarpe/Cumberland). Barricades will also be located at Rock & Clinton and Clinton just west of Commerce, as well as at the northern boundaries of St. Vincent Plaza and Ottenheimer Plaza within Riverfront Park. Any cars within the closed-off area will be allowed to exit, but no new cars will be allowed in.

People driving to the River Market are encouraged to park in the Statehouse Parking Deck at 201 Main Street, the River Market Parking Deck at 500 East 2nd Street, or in the nearby area surface lots or street-side parking. 

 The River Rail trolley will continue to run its regular schedule. It will be allowed access through the barricades.

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