On opening of flyover, I- 430/ I- 630 closures set

Another flyover ramp on the Interstate 430/ Interstate 630 interchange is scheduled to open as early as this weekend, but motorists on both interstates will be subjected to lane restrictions to help make it happen.

If the weather cooperates, crews will complete work on the flyover ramp leading from I- 430 south to I- 630 east as part of continued work on the $ 125 million project to ease congestion in the interchange, the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department said in a news release Thursday.

Once the work is completed, the ramp will be opened to traffic. Video showing how the ramp is negotiated can be found at vimeo. com/ ahtd/ sb430flyover.

The work will reduce I- 430 southbound to one lane between North Rodney Parham Road and West Markham Street.

“That’s a huge lane closure,” said Danny Straessle, an agency spokesman. “You are going from three lanes to one lane.”

Traffic also will be reduced to one lane on I- 630 eastbound between the I- 430 overpass and the onramp from Baptist Health Medical Center.

The lane closures will begin at 6 a. m. Saturday and continue until the work is complete, which could be as late as Monday morning, weather permitting, the department said.

“They have an extensive amount of striping to do,” Straessle said. “The contractor is way behind because of all the rain.”

The work is the latest sign that the six- year proj-

ect is winding down.

The overpass that carries traffic over South Shackleford Road via the west Little Rock interchange became fully operational last month when the westbound lanes were opened. The eastbound lanes on the overpass were opened in February.

A flyover ramp taking motorists from I- 430 north onto I- 630 east as well as a ramp dedicated for motorists going from I- 430 north to Baptist Health Medical Center also were opened to traffic in February.

All of the work is designed to move more efficiently some 200,000 vehicles per day through the interchange now as well as the projected 300,000 vehicles that will use it every day in 20 years, according to the department.

Work on the project dates to January 2009 when WeaverBailey Contractors of El Paso in White County began the first phase with a $ 17.3 million contract that included construction of an additional lane for motorists traveling from I- 630 west to I- 430 north and relocating the route motorists use to go from I- 430 south to Financial Centre Parkway west.

It also added new traffic signals and made intersection improvements at Shackleford and Hermitage roads and at Financial Centre and Hermitage.

An $ 18 million project that began in July 2009 mainly involved modifications for future improvements, with the most significant aspect being removal and reconstruction of the I- 430 bridge over I- 630.

Planning for the entire project began in 2005 — 30 years after I- 430 opened and 18 years after the interchange opened — when Bridgefarmer and Associates of Dallas was hired to study the interchange and make recommendations.

The final flyover ramp — from I- 630 west to I- 430 south — is scheduled to be opened formally next month.