Signs Alert About Upcoming Road Construction

Road crews are posting message boards along the routes approaching I-540 in Fort Smith alerting drivers to the upcoming roadwork scheduled to begin on Jan. 28.

Once the construction begins, Joe Shipman from the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department said drivers will experience reduced lanes between Rogers Avenue and I-40.

The project includes resurfacing the road, reconstructing nine bridges and modifying two additional bridges. The first phase will be reconstructing the inside shoulder of the highway and building crossovers.

“The congestion is going to be the biggest issue,” Shipman said.

Traffic will be limited to one lane in either direction for the duration of the project which is expected to last up to a year and a half.

This will be the first reconstruction on this stretch of road since it went into service in 1967. Shipman said the $78.8 million dollar project will improve road quality and safety.

Speed limits will be reduced from 65 to 55 miles per hour in work zones during construction.