Lane closures expected for I-49 widening work

FAYETTEVILLE -- Construction work on Interstate 49 in Johnson will require overnight lane closures on Johnson Mill Boulevard, according to Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department officials.

Beginning at 11 p.m. Wednesday, crews will put up structural steel girders and place safety platforms for the I-49 overpass widening at Exit 69.

The east and west lanes of Johnson Mill Boulevard will alternately be reduced to one lane between the east and west I-49 access ramp intersections as work progresses. When the girders are being positioned over the roadway, traffic may be stopped in both directions for up to 15 minutes. In addition, the double left turn on the I-49 south ramp will be reduced to one lane. Traffic on I-49 will not be affected.

The lane closures will occur nightly between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. The closures will end Feb. 2, weather permitting. Traffic will be controlled using signage, flaggers and barrels.

Construction work on I-49 in Springdale will require overnight lane closures on West Sunset Avenue, according to highway officials.

The contractor will install a safety platform and remove a section of the bridge decks to accommodate the widening of I-49. East and west lanes on West Sunset Avenue will alternately be reduced to one lane between the east and west I-49 access ramp intersections. Traffic on I-49 will not be affected.

The lane closures will occur nightly between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. The closures began Jan. 4 and will end Feb. 19, weather permitting. Traffic will be controlled using flaggers and barrels.

The work also requires temporarily removing the sidewalk below the I-49 overpass.

The contractor will construct new foundations for the I-49 overpass widening, which requires removal of the sidewalk and excavation on the north side of Sunset. The sidewalk will be temporarily closed between the northbound entrance ramp to I-49 and the southbound exit ramp from I-49.

The sidewalk closure began Nov. 23. Weather permitting, the sidewalk will be closed until early March while the overpass substructures are being constructed. Barricades and pedestrian fencing will be in place, as well as fencing around the excavated areas. Pedestrian traffic is discouraged underneath the I-49 overpass.

The projects are part of the highway department's Connecting Arkansas Program and includes widening 4.5 miles of I-49 to three lanes in each direction from Johnson to Springdale. The project is anticipated to be complete in early 2017.

NW News on 01/26/2016

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