BENTON COUNTY (05-29) – Construction and rock blasting to build the new Bella Vista Bypass
interchange with U.S. Highway 71 in Bentonville requires lane closures, according to Arkansas
Department of Transportation (ARDOT) officials.

Weather permitting, crews will alternately close northbound and southbound lanes on
Highway 71 between Exit 93 and Peach Orchard Road. Crews will use flagging operations,
signage, and police enforcement during overnight hours Monday, June 1 through Friday, June 5.
The closures will begin at 8:00 p.m. and end by 7:00 a.m. (Monday-Thursday) and 10:00
a.m (Friday).

Also weather permitting, crews will perform rock blasting operations Monday, June 1 through
Friday, June 12, between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. During the blasting, crews will temporarily
stop traffic for up to 15 minutes as a safety precaution in the area of the existing roundabout on
Interstate 49, State Highway 549 (Bella Vista Bypass), and Walton Boulevard.

Watch for warning signs and safety personnel during the work. The public is advised to be
cautious when traveling in the work zone and watch for slower traffic speeds.

This project (Job CA0903) is part of ARDOT’s Connecting Arkansas Program and includes
constructing approximately 2.8 miles of roadway with bridge structures on U.S. Highway 549,
including a new Bella Vista Bypass interchange with U.S. Highway 71 in Bentonville. More
information on this $66.6 million project is available at ConnectingArkansasProgram.com.

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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