Widening of I-49 set to close sidewalk

Work on Interstate 49 in Springdale will require the removal of the West Sunset Avenue sidewalk below the overpass for about five weeks beginning Monday, the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department said.

Construction of new foundations for the I-49 overpass widening requires the excavation on the north side of Sunset, also called U.S. 412. The sidewalk closure will extend from the I-49 northbound entrance ramp to the southbound exit ramp.

Barricades and pedestrian fencing will be in place, along with fencing around the excavated areas. Pedestrian traffic is discouraged in the area while the foundations are being constructed, the department said.

The work was originally scheduled to begin earlier this month, but it was delayed, an agency spokesman said.

The $28.3 million project will widen I-49 to three lanes in each direction from U.S. 71B in Johnson to Sunset in Springdale, a distance of 4.5 miles. The project is part of the agency's $1.8 billion Connecting Arkansas Program.

Metro on 11/21/2015

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