Fort Smith, ARK – The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) and state leaders marked a major milestone on Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the final groundwork for the Interstate 30 Crossing project. This long-awaited upgrade to one of the state’s busiest highways has now been completed, with a significant reduction in travel disruptions for the thousands of commuters who use this route daily.
Interstate 30 serves as a crucial corridor for approximately 120,000 vehicles each day, and the project’s extensive improvements are expected to ease congestion and improve safety for both drivers and cyclists. The upgrades include wider lanes, improved ramps and overpasses, and the construction of a new bridge spanning the Arkansas River, all of which are designed to accommodate growing traffic demands in the region.
What makes this development even more remarkable is the fact that the project was finished seven months ahead of schedule, with the expected completion date set for July 2025. This early completion means fewer delays for drivers, who have had to navigate through construction zones for years.
Among those celebrating the project’s progress are local cyclists Mike Daniel and Jenny Shumate, who often travel along the North Little Rock route that passes over the Clinton Bridge. Shumate, in particular, highlighted the improvements made along the Arkansas River trails, noting that cyclists no longer face the disruptions caused by detours that were previously a common nuisance.
“One of our routes is in North Little Rock, coming over the Clinton bridge. And we would be on the trail along the river where we’ve got to detour,” Shumate said, referring to the more challenging conditions cyclists faced prior to the project’s improvements.
ARDOT Director Lorie Tudor also spoke at the ceremony, describing the completion as a “substantial” achievement. While some minor tasks remain, she stressed the significance of wrapping up the project earlier than expected. “Every day it gets done earlier is a day that the traveling public doesn’t have to go through a construction work zone,” Tudor remarked. “So it’s just safer all the way around.”
The Interstate 30 Crossing project is a vital component in Arkansas’ ongoing efforts to modernize its transportation infrastructure, with the goal of improving mobility and safety for all road users. Despite some remaining work, the completion of the project’s final groundwork marks a major step forward for the state’s transportation network, setting the stage for a smoother commute for years to come.