SPRINGDALE -- Eight miles of new lanes on Interstate 49 from Johnson to north Springdale will open to traffic tonight, according to Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department officials.
Beginning at 8 p.m., the completed inside lanes for north and south I-49 from mile marker 68, just south of Johnson Mill Boulevard, to the Wagon Wheel Road interchange, Exit 76, will be opened to traffic.
Final work on median barriers and rails may require temporary shoulder closings or overnight lane closings.
"They're working on it. This is where a lot of the orange barrels are coming down," said Dick Trammel, chairman of the Arkansas Highway Commission. "So, things are getting better. When they disappear, it's always better."
Trammel urged motorists to drive reasonably through the newly opened areas and be aware when the lanes narrow again at either end.
"That's the reason we had to close down the six lanes we opened last year," Trammel said.
Several sections of widened I-49 between interchanges were opened last year and subsequently closed because of the number of accidents where those sections narrowed to two lanes.
Officials say they plan to open more sections as work proceeds on other widening projects along the interstate. For example, the section of I-49 between Wagon Wheel Road and Lowell, or possibly even further north, likely will open when interchange work is complete for the U.S. 412 Northern Bypass around Springdale.
More information on the I-49 projects is available at ConnectingArkansasProgram.com.
Drivers should exercise caution when approaching and traveling through all highway work zones. Additional travel information can be found at IDriveArkansas.com or ArkansasHighways.com. You can also follow the Highway Department on Twitter @AHTD.
NW News on 11/03/2016