LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - One of the most traveled roads in Arkansas is getting a $450 million makeover. The purpose of the project is to improve safety and increase capacity.
Anyone who drives the Interstate 30 corridor knows how busy it gets. The I-30 River Bridge is the key component to this project.
Each day, more than 110,000 vehicles travel the Interstate 30 corridor between Interstate 530 in Little Rock and U.S. Highway 67 in North Little Rock. Isiah Bingley is one of those drivers.
"Traffic is moving slow everyday," said Bingley.
He lives in North Little Rock and drives the I-30 corridor every day.
"I believe if you had a road expansion it would help traffic flow a lot better," said Bingley.
"We do not have a clear answer of what needs to be done," said Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department Public Information Officer Danny Straessle.
Straessle says they do know they need to increase capacity. Traffic projections show an increase of more than 35 percent by 2040.
"It is pretty easy to see that it is not likely the number of lanes going across the river are going to handle an increase in traffic," said Straessle.
Staessle is talking about the I-30 River Bridge. He says what gets done here dictates the rest of the seven mile project on I-30 and I-40.
"If you are carrying ten lanes across the river then you need to have that many lanes on either side to receive and put the traffic on to the bridge," said Straessle.
"Early morning rush hour and late afternoon rush hour are the busy times," said David Fike.
David Fike sees the River Bridge every day. His business, Fike's Bike's, is right under it. He says he has noticed an increase in traffic, but does not think the bridge needs to be widened.
"I am not a big proponent," said Fike. "In the seven year's I have been here it is just not bumper to bumper 24/7."
But Straessle says the department is looking ahead 20 years. Bridges built today are meant to last 50 years. Roadways are meant to last 25 years. Which is why the department is asking for your input to do the project right.
The Highway Department is also working on finalizing the Broadway Bridge replacement project. That project is supposed to be done by 2017. After the project is complete, that is when they hope to start on the I-30 corridor project, which must be complete by 2023. The money to pay for the project is coming from the half cent sales tax increase that was passed in November 2012.
A public meeting is set for Tuesday August 12th from 4-7 p.m. at the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce (Bank of the Ozarks Conference Center). Another meeting is scheduled for Thursday August 14th at the Comfort Inn and Suites Presidential (Cash/Campbell Ballroom).
