State leaders, transportation officials, and local representatives gathered in Cabot Arkansas to officially break ground on a major $53.9 million improvement project at Highway 5 and Interstate 57 designed to improve traffic flow, safety, and long-term economic growth in Central Arkansas.
Jared D. Wiley, Director of The Arkansas Department of Transportation, said the project will bring much-needed traffic relief and major safety improvements to one of the busiest corridors in the region.
“We’re building a Single Point Urban Interchange, or SPUI as we call those, here at Highway 5,” Wiley said. “Folks are going to be smiling when they drive through this interchange once it’s complete.”
Wiley said the Highway 5 project paired with ongoing Interstate 57 widening efforts will significantly improve travel throughout Lonoke County Arkansas and beyond.
“The commuters rolling from Cabot to Little Rock and those long-haul drivers traveling from Little Rock toward the Great Lakes region are going to be happy driving through this corridor,” Wiley said.
Officials with The Arkansas Department of Transportation said Highway 5 currently carries approximately 18,000 vehicles daily north of Interstate 57 and more than 21,000 vehicles daily south of the interstate. Interstate 57 traffic volumes near Cabot now approach 60,000 vehicles per day.
The project will replace the existing overpass while supporting ongoing widening work along Interstate 57. Wiley also announced a similar SPUI project planned for the Highway 89 interchange, with bids expected late next year.
State Representative Brian Evans called the groundbreaking a historic day for Cabot Arkansas and said the Interstate 57 designation created opportunities for commerce and long-term economic growth throughout the region.
“For the 60% of our workforce that leaves here every day driving to Little Rock to work, it’s going to make traffic smoother and safer,” Evans said. “It’s also going to be wonderful for the businesses that are going to be located around here.”
State Senator Ricky Hill praised the project for improving transportation and supporting future development throughout Cabot Arkansas.
“It’s going to be great for traffic, great for businesses, and great economic development,” Hill said. “It’s going to help citizens get where they need to go at a faster pace.”
Cabot Mayor Ken Kincade acknowledged the construction process may create temporary inconvenience for drivers and residents but emphasized the long-term benefits of the project.
“Progress is painful, but progress is coming to Cabot,” Kincade said. “The city is going to look completely different in the next 3 years to 4 years.”
Kincade said officials hope the project will be completed in less than 2 years while additional improvements continue along the Interstate 57 corridor.
The project was awarded earlier this year to Weaver Bailey Contractors and is expected to take approximately 2 years to complete.
Officials described the interchange as one of the final major links connecting Central Arkansas along Interstate 57 toward the Missouri state line, improving regional travel connections between Arkansas, St. Louis, and Chicago.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation said the project is part of a broader investment across Lonoke County Arkansas, where 89 transportation projects covering 320 miles have totaled approximately $390 million over the past 10 years.
Watch the breaking ground on much-needed improvements to the I-57/Highway 5 interchange in Cabot.
HAVE INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE with the ArkansasRadio.com radio stations submit your event at https://arkansasradio.com/submit-event/
Leave a Reply