Saline County I-30 construction set for completion despite delays

KUAR | By Madison Stolzer-Cavanaugh

After a series of delays, the long-awaited Interstate 30 construction project in Saline County is finally set to reach completion at the end of December.

Rex Vines, chief of operations for the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT), said in an interview with Little Rock Public Radio that final touches are being done around mile marker 111 –the last stretch of construction– including concrete finishings, guard rails and overhead signage.

“The project has improved, not only the pavement, but the traffic flow all the way to Highway 70,” Vines said. “It’s great to see traffic flowing and reduced congestion.”

Saline County I-30 construction set for completion despite delays

Daniel Breen/Little Rock Public Radio

Vehicles navigate the interchange between Interstate 30 and Arkansas Highway 229 in Benton on Dec. 9, 2024.

Arkansas Inspector Fired, Ignored I-40 Bridge Damage; Criminal Probe Possible

By DANIEL BREEN

The Arkansas Department of Transportation has fired a bridge inspector who failed to notice damage on at least two separate occasions on a now-closed bridge over the Mississippi River.

Department officials said they terminated the inspector Monday over his failure to notice damage to the Interstate 40 Mississippi River bridge during inspections one year apart, in Sept. of 2019 and 2020. This comes after the department identified a contractor's drone footage dating back to May 2019 showing significant damage.

ARDOT director Lorie Tudor says the department has contacted the FBI to determine whether criminal charges should be filed.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-inspector-fired-ignored-i-40-bridge-damage-criminal-probe-possible

ARDOT Chief Engineer Rex Vines stands next to an image captured by a drone showing damage to the Interstate 40 Mississippi River bridge in 2019.

CREDIT DANIEL BREEN / KUAR NEWS