Notice to Media

Highway Department to Conduct Safety Inspections On I-440 Bridge

LITTLE ROCK (4-26) – The bridges that make-up Interstate 440 between the Interstate 30 interchange and the airport will be undergoing regular inspections by the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) during the period April 30 through May 10, 2001.

The I-440 facility, which is the longest bridge structure in the state at a length of 13,533 feet, was opened to traffic in 1982. “As part of the Department’s safety measures, inspections are conducted regularly on all 6,980 bridges on the State Highway System as well as the 5,200 county and city bridges across the state to insure the structures are safe for motorists,” stated AHTD Director Dan Flowers.

The inspections will be confined to the bridge structures crossing the Fourche Creek area on I-440 from the I-30 interchange to near the airport. In conjunction with the inspections, it will be necessary to temporarily close the outside lanes at various times to accommodate “The Snooper” which is the name for the bridge inspection equipment.

The westbound outside lane in the area will be closed from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, April 30 – May 4, 2001. The eastbound outside lane closure will occur Monday through Thursday, May 7 – May 10. The inspections will be conducted on the scheduled dates, weather permitting.

Motorists may want to use alternate routes or allow extra travel time during the lane closure periods. As always, motorists are urged to “Think Ahead” and exercise caution when approaching and traveling through work zones.

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