Notice to Media

LITTLE ROCK (10-25) – The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) recently received alignment approval from the Federal Highway Administration for the Interstate 69 connector from Pine Bluff to near Monticello, according to Highway Commission Chairman John Lipton of Warren.

"We now have a final selected and approved path for this highly anticipated project," said Lipton. "I can’t say enough about the impact this new road will have on southeast Arkansas."

The new roadway will intersect Interstate 530 at Pine Bluff and connect with Highway 278 between Monticello and Wilmar.

The next step in the process is for the Highway Commission to select a design consultant. According to Lipton, AHTD is now accepting letters of interest and anticipates the design phase to be complete in 18-24 months.

Congress appropriated $100 million for the project in 1999, but cost estimates for the connector have been set at about $300 million.

Interstate 69 is the proposed north-south Interstate that will link Canada and Mexico by way of Arkansas.