NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark — Update: Crews have finished repairs on a massive pothole on Interstate 440 at the Faulkner Lake Bridge.
The lane will remain closed in order to allow the concrete to set properly.
Crews with the Arkansas Department of Transportation are currently performing emergent pavement repair on Interstate 440 at the Faulkner Lake Bridge in Pulaski County.
Crews are cutting out and replacing rebar, then pouring concrete.
ARDOT expects those repairs to be finished and the lane to be re-opened by as early as Wednesday evening.
According to Arkansas State Police, the first lane of I-440 East and Faulkner Lake Road will be closed indefinitely due to the hole in the interstate.
ARDOT was notified of the hole at 7:30 am on Tuesday.
When crews got out there they found a hole spanning several feet in length on the Faulkner Lake Bridge.
ARDOT spokesperson Dave Parker described it as a bridge deck and said there isn't an issue with the bridge's infrastructure. Parker said the hole was a product of the recent winter weather.
"You get a road that's a little worn," Parker said. "You get the water that's beneath the surface, freezes up like an ice cube, and expands beneath the surface. It creates pockets of little fractures, then it thaws out as we have had, and you get traffic coming across it and it sinks and thus the pothole."
Drivers have been advised to plan alternate routes if possible and exercise caution when traveling through the area. Traffic delays are also anticipated.
To report a pothole to ARDOT, you can call 501-569-2000, or you can click here.
To check on real-time traffic status, you can visit iDrive Arkansas's website.