Arkansas – The Arkansas Department of Transportation has announced the selection of Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. as the Construction Manager/General Contractor for the replacement of the Interstate 55 Bridge over the Mississippi River.
The long-awaited infrastructure project aims to improve capacity, safety, and mobility for both commercial and passenger vehicles traveling between Arkansas and Tennessee.
Funding for the bridge replacement includes a significant $394 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program, awarded in July 2024.
Additionally, both ARDOT and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) have each committed up to $200 million, reinforcing a collaborative investment in the region’s critical transportation infrastructure.
“This signals another big step in the effort to replace the aging Interstate 55 Bridge connecting Arkansas and Tennessee,” said ARDOT Director Jared D. Wiley. “The new bridge will allow for more capacity while enhancing safety and mobility for all motorists, commercial and passenger.”
Wiley emphasized the importance of the partnership between Arkansas and Tennessee, highlighting the essential role the bridge plays in national freight movement.
“Keeping freight moving along this stretch of highway is vital to the nation. None of this would be possible if not for the grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the support from our elected officials,” Wiley said. “ARDOT looks forward to the continued partnership with our friends at TDOT, who were the leading force behind the grant application.”
The project marks a crucial infrastructure upgrade, ensuring the long-term viability of a major transportation corridor linking both states. Further details on construction timelines and traffic impacts will be announced as planning progresses.