Construction continues to improve the backbone of regional economic development along Interstate 30 between Texarkana, Ark., and Hope, with the combined cost totaling $122.8 million.
Contractors and crews with the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department have been working day and night to complete the project, said Steve Frisbee, P.E. and district engineer for District Three in Hope.
"All of these projects, along with previously completed projects from Texarkana to Mandeville and from mile 22.3 to Hope will conclude the rehabilitation of I-30 between Texarkana and Hope,"
Frisbee said.
"The combine cost of all of these project totals $122.8 million,"
he said.
"We realize highway construction isn't fun for motorists and we appreciate their patience while we work to rehabilitate and provide safety improvements to these portions of I-30," Frisbee said.
"Good roads are in everyone's interest and the highways network in Arkansas is the state's backbone of economic development, especially the interstates. These projects will ensure goods continue to roll into and out of the state and keep our economy moving
forward," he said.
The traffic continues to grow along I-30 from the border of Texas and into Arkansas and justifies the construction.
The 2015 average daily traffic (ADT) for I-30 between Texarkana and Hope is 30,000 vehicles per day, which 47 percent is large truck traffic, Frisbee said.
The following is a summary of some of the traffic counts back to 2003:
- 2013 with 28,000 vehicles per day
- 2010 with 27,000 vehicles per day
- 2007 with 25,000 vehicles per day
- 2003 with 24,000 vehicles per day
The primary IRP (Interstate Rehabilitation Program) restores the smoothness and preserve the existing interstate system for the future by providing a new driving surface, Frisbee said.
"This new and smoother driving surface does improve traffic flow and safety. Although these projects are not adding capacity, or additional lane to I-30, there are definite safety benefits that accompany the rehabilitation," he said.
New guardrail, striping, and reflectorized pavement markers are placed along with the new pavement. About 16.3 miles of wire rope safety fence will be placed in the median, the entire length of I-30 in Miller County, as part of these projects, to minimize head-on collisions due to vehicles crossing the median into oncoming traffic.
"The new Red River bridge will be much wider than the existing bridge, providing for a 10-foot wide outside shoulder and 8-foot wide inside shoulder, as compared to the 2-foot wide shoulders on the original bridge built in 1967,"
Frisbee said.
The most recently completed project in the area was between log mile 18.3 (Fulton) and log mile 22.3 in Hempstead County. This project began in December 2015 and was completed in November 2016.
"The three remaining projects between Texarkana and Fulton include:
"Job BB0310 is between Mandeville (Highway 108 interchange) and Homan (Highway 67 interchange ) or from log miles 6.5 to 11.6. Interstate Highway Construction, Inc. is the prime contractor for the $17.3 million project. The job started in March 2016 and is estimated to be complete by August 2017.
Job BB0302 is between Homan and the Red River, log miles 11.6 and 16.3. Interstate Highway Construction, Inc. is also the prime contractor for this $12.6 million project. This project started in January 2017 and is estimated to be complete in July 2017.
Job BB0303 is the Red River bridge project and also includes two miles of interstate rehabilitation in Miller and Hempstead County from log miles 16.3 to 18.3. Jensen Construction Co. is the prime contractor for this $37.2 million project. The job started in August 2015 and is estimated to be complete in October 2017.