JACKSONVILLE, Ark. (KTHV) -- If you're not a patient person, you might want to avoid traveling on Highway 67/167 from Cabot to Jacksonville for the next ten months.
Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher said people need to use caution when traveling through the construction zone.
“We're going to have two lanes that are eleven foot a piece, northbound and southbound while they start the actual demolition of construction on the expansion of 67/167,” he said
Fletcher said it's going to be a tight squeeze for about a four mile stretch with concrete walls on both sides.
He said people need to drive the speed limit which is 55 miles per hour and in one spot and towards the end of the zone it goes to 45 miles per hour.
“They've given over 2,000 tickets since the Spring in this area because of people speeding," he said. "We're talking ten, fifteen, and sometimes more than that over the speed limit."
Fletcher also wants to stress that drivers shouldn't stop in the construction zone if you get into a minor fender bender. He said you need to drive past the construction zone to a safe spot, so you don't hold up traffic.
He suggest for people to take alternate routes if they can.
“They can hit 107 and go the back way, you can also hit Highway 89 and go through Furlow,” he said.
You can also take Kerr Station Road south towards Graham Road and both John Hardin Drive and TP White Drive.
The mayor said they’re trying to help and prevent traffic problems by offering tips.
“What we're trying to do is reduce the odds of those wrecks happening by listing alternate routes and having people slow down,” he said.
Here a list of alternate routes you can take to avoid the construction zone:
- Both John Hardin Drive and TP White Drive from Cabot to Jacksonville will remain open.
- SH 89 South to I-40 at Remington and then west to North Little Rock.
- SH 89 West to SH 107 then south to the Little Rock Air Base and North Little Rock.
- Kerr Station Road South to Graham Road or SH 294 both west to Jacksonville.
Fletcher said when it rains, people will need to be extra careful because the water will have nowhere to go between the concrete walls. He said the four mile stretch will more than likely flood with heavy rains.