I-30 traffic to shift onto new Arkansas River bridge starting in September

Drivers traveling on I-30 in Little Rock and North Little Rock should expect a shift onto the new Arkansas River bridge in coming weeks as crews demolish the old bridge, according to the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT).

According to ARDOT, crews will begin shifting traffic onto the new bridge starting on Thursday, September 1.

The shift of I-30 traffic to the news bridge will take place in the following three phases:

• Thursday, September 1 (Phase 1): Northbound frontage road traffic will take a new on-ramp at 4th Street to the river bridge and I-30 eastbound. This traffic on the new bridge can then exit to Broadway Street or continue and merge into I-30 eastbound lanes. In this first phase, I-30 eastbound and westbound lanes will remain in the existing alignment.

• Saturday, September 10 (Phase 2): I-30 eastbound traffic will shift onto the new river bridge. I-30 westbound will remain in its existing alignment.
   
• Saturday, September 17 (Phase 3): I-30 westbound traffic will shift onto the new river bridge. 
  

ARDOT also said that drivers should prepare for various westbound I-30 ramp closures during the project:

• In North Little Rock, the on-ramp at Broadway Street will temporarily close and a new on-ramp will open at Bishop Lindsey Avenue. To access I-30 westbound, all traffic will take the northbound frontage road to the Texas U-Turn at Bishop Lindsey Avenue and the new on-ramp.
  
• In Little Rock, exit ramps at 2nd and 6th streets will close and a new temporary exit ramp will open at 9th street. To access downtown Little Rock from I-30 westbound, traffic will take the new exit ramp at 9th Street.

For more information on the project and traffic impacts, you can click here.