It was on June 29, 1956, that President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act, which funded the construction of this country’s original 41,000-mile Interstate Highway System. Construction of the Interstate Highway System was one of the largest engineering projects ever undertaken.  Today, the 46,870-mile Interstate system carries 24 percent of all vehicle travel in the nation. 

            “We are very proud of the history of Arkansas’ Interstate System,” stated AHTD Director Dan Flowers.  “Arkansas can lay claim to the fact that, in 1975, we became the first state to complete our original allotment of Interstate highway miles.  At that time, we had 525 miles of Interstate highway on Interstates 30, 40, 55, 430 and a small section of 540 in Fort Smith.”

            Today, there are 655 miles on eight Interstate Highways in Arkansas, including Interstates 30, 40, 55, 430, 440, 530, 540 and 630. Though the Interstates only comprise about two (2) percent of all lane miles of roads in Arkansas, they carry 26 percent of the traffic.

 “Our Interstate system is vital in transporting goods not only in Arkansas, but around the entire region and country,” said Prissy Hickerson, Chairman of the Arkansas State Highway Commission.  “The importance of this system to the public cannot be overemphasized – they truly do link us to the rest of the country and the world.”

            In 2000, the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department began a five-year Interstate Rehabilitation Program (IRP).  Since that time, more than 350 miles of Arkansas Interstates have been reconstructed or rehabilitated. 

            “Arkansas has been showcased nationally for the IRP’s innovative financing, design and implementation,” added Hickerson. “Department officials are frequently asked to share their experiences with the IRP at transportation industry conferences around the country.”

            A recent ranking of the nation’s interstates by Overdrive magazine, a national trucking publication, included Interstate 40 in Arkansas as the number one “most improved” highway in the country.  Interstate 30 in Arkansas ranked third in the same category.

            Today, 72% of Arkansas’ interstates are classified as being in good condition. “We are extremely proud of that fact,” added Flowers.  “We still have needs that must be met so our roadways won’t fall into disrepair, but we’ve had a successful, but challenging, 50 years here in Arkansas, and we look forward to continuing that success in order to meet the transportation challenges into the future.”

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For more information on the country’s Interstates and their 50^th anniversary, go to www.interstate50th.org.