Blasting for bypass to delay traffic on I-49, Arkansas 549

Blasting associated with construction of the Bella Vista Bypass interchange with U.S. 71 will continue for parts of the next two weeks, resulting in traffic being stopped periodically on Interstate 49 and Arkansas 549, the Arkansas Department of Transportation said.

The blasting will occur between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, weather permitting. The blasting will resume after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend on Dec. 2.

During the blasting operation, traffic will be stopped for up to 15 minutes as a safety precaution at several locations. Those locations include I-49 from north of the bridges over Slaughter Pen Road to Arkansas 549 and on Arkansas 549 from the roundabout to the bridges over Peach Orchard

Road.

Traffic will be controlled by the Arkansas State Police. Drivers should consider using alternate routes, the highway department said.

The work is associated with a $66.6 million project to build about 2.8 miles of twolane roadway with bridges on Arkansas 549, including the new Bella Vista Bypass interchange with U.S. 71 in Bentonville.