CRAIGHEAD COUNTY (02-19) – A project to begin in March will reconstruct approximately
five miles of travel lanes on Interstate 555 in Jonesboro, according to Arkansas Department
of Transportation (ARDOT) officials.
The work will extend from State Highway 18 (Southwest Drive) eastward to State Highway
463 (Nettleton Avenue) and will include reconstruction of the northbound and southbound
travel lanes and the resurfacing of several bridges.
“This project will reconstruct pavement that was installed nearly 50 years ago,” stated
ARDOT District Engineer Brad Smithee. “The existing pavement on this project has been
patched, ground for smoothness and had routine maintenance performed for many years.
The lanes have reached a point where significant improvements just cannot be made
without the needed reconstruction planned this spring.
“The improvements will also include replacing the driving surfaces on the bridge decks on
the main lanes,” Smithee added. “We will also see new surface treatments installed on the
overpasses at Willow Road, Red Wolf Boulevard, South Caraway Road, Harrisburg Road
and Southwest Drive.”
As upcoming improvements progress, motorists can expect to see lane closures and traffic
shifts. Work will take place in the southbound lanes initially and then continue to the
northbound lanes.
“We are excited to see these much-needed improvements coming to Interstate 555 in
Jonesboro,” ARDOT Director Scott Bennett stated. “The existing northbound lanes were
constructed in the early 1970s and the southbound lanes followed in the mid-1970s. The
new, improved lanes will meet all Interstate standards and provide decades of better travel
for motorists.”
ARDOT will keep the traveling public advised of traffic changes well in advance of the
scheduled work.
“We will be providing updates to the media and the traveling public as this project
progresses,” Smithee added. “Our schedule is aggressive in order to minimize traffic
impacts.”
Completion of the northbound lanes is expected by late 2020, followed by the southbound
lanes and all work to be finished by mid-2021.
Several projects have already taken place on Interstate 555 between Jonesboro and
Interstate 55 at West Memphis and the Department has more planned.
Drivers should exercise caution when approaching and traveling through all highway work
zones. Additional travel information can be found at IDriveArkansas.com or ARDOT.gov. You can
also follow us on Twitter @myARDOT.
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