I-49 lane closures planned in Fayetteville

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Officials with the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department have announced planned nightly lane closures on Interstate 49 in Fayetteville beginning this week.

According to a news release, the northbound and southbound lanes of I-49 will be closed from 10 p.m. through 6 a.m. between Exit 65 (N. Porter Road / W. Mount Comfort Road) and Exit 69 (Johnson Mill Boulevard) beginning Thursday, Sept. 29.

The lane closures are necessary for the placement of pavement markings and a precast concrete barrier wall along the existing travel lanes of I-49, according to the department. The closures are expected to last about five days.

In August 2016, the Arkansas Highway Commission awarded a contract in the amount of $94,824,907.70 to Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. of Fort Worth, Texas for the project, which will add a third lane for both northbound and southbound traffic on I-49 between Exit 65 and Exit 69. The project also includes improvements to the Hwy. 112 (Exit 66) and Hwy. 71B (Exit 67) interchanges.

The 450-day (calendar) contract means the project should be complete by the end of 2017.