Rogers drivers should plan ahead: the intersection of Fifth and Mulberry streets will close for three days starting Wednesday for water main replacement work.
The city of Rogers announced the closure in a news release this week, warning motorists to seek alternate routes during the project. The work involves replacing an aging water main at the intersection located due east of Rogers Heritage High School and just south of New Life Apostolic Church.
City officials did not specify exact closure times in the release, though typical municipal water main projects of this scope run during daytime hours. Drivers accustomed to using Fifth Street as a connector through that stretch of Rogers should expect to detour via Olive Street or one of the parallel routes one block west.
The intersection sits in a part of Rogers that sees significant traffic on school days. Rogers Heritage High School, located just west of the closure point on Fifth Street, serves hundreds of students who often travel to and from campus via Mulberry Street. Parents picking up students during the closure window may need to adjust their routines.
Water main replacements are routine infrastructure projects, though they often catch drivers off guard when scheduled during peak travel times. The city has not indicated whether the project was timed to avoid conflict with the school year’s final weeks, though the closure falls in early June — near the end of the academic calendar.
For residents in the neighborhood between downtown Rogers and the Pinnacle Hills area, the closure adds a minor detour to commutes that typically flow easily through that intersection. Fifth Street serves as one of the more direct east-west routes in that part of the city, connecting residential streets near the high school with commercial areas further east.
The city did not say when the water main was originally installed, but replacements of this nature typically address pipes that have reached the end of their functional lifespan. Older water mains in Rogers — particularly in established neighborhoods — have required increasing attention in recent years as the city’s infrastructure ages alongside its growth.
Motorists can find more details by contacting the Rogers Public Works department. The city’s news release advised drivers to exercise caution in the area and to watch for posted detour signs.
This is at least the second significant street closure in Rogers this spring. Earlier this year, road work affected traffic near the Railyard as the city continued improvements to streetscape and drainage in that growing entertainment district.
For those unfamiliar with the area, Rogers Heritage High School occupies a prominent spot on South Fifth Street, visible from the nearby interstate. The school’s athletic facilities draw community events throughout the year, and traffic patterns around campus can shift noticeably during those evenings and weekends.
The intersection closure will likely affect Wednesday and Thursday commutes most significantly, with normal traffic flow expected to resume by the weekend if the project stays on schedule.
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
