Notice to Media

Lanes to be Closed on I-40

LITTLE ROCK (10-21) -- Construction on a project to widen the Highway 365 overpass on I-40 at Morgan will force temporary closure of Interstate 40 beginning on Sunday night, October 24, 1999, according to Dan Flowers, Director of the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD).

Beginning at approximately 7:00 p.m., the Interstate will be closed at the Morgan exit to allow for the removal of the existing bridge. The Interstate closure will last no more than 15 minutes. Additional lane closures will be necessary to move equipment and remove portions of the bridge, weather permitting.

None of the closures will last more than 15 minutes and all closures will be complete by 6:00 a.m. on Monday morning. The same schedule will be followed on Monday evening beginning again at 7:00 p.m. through Tuesday morning at 6:00 a.m. when all lanes will be opened. The Morgan exit and entrance ramps will remain open throughout the process and traffic will be diverted to the ramps during the closure periods.

The overpass is being widened as part of a project to widen Highway 365 (Old Conway Highway) to five lanes from Highway 100 (Maumelle Blvd.) to the I-40 interchange. Mobley Contractors of Morrilton was awarded a $4.5 million contract for the work which is expected to be complete by mid-2000.

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