I-30 construction in Texarkana entering new phase next week

TEXARKANA, Texas ( KTAL/KSHV )—Traffic on part of I-30 will change as soon as next week as the contractor prepares for the next phase of widening the interstate from four lanes to six.

Crews will remove and replace a portion of the eastbound interstate bridge across the railroad and build about 4,000 feet of the new eastbound lanes during this phase.

The Texas Department of Transportation said they will shift both lanes of I-30 mainline traffic in Texarkana to the frontage road at the State Line Ave. exit. Drivers will be able to reenter the mainline west of State Line Ave. or continue on to State Line Ave. Authorities will reduce the mainline traffic speed limit to 55 miles per hour along the traffic shift.

Those driving on the frontage road will be restricted to one lane, and a concrete barrier will separate interstate traffic from the traffic on the frontage road. Drivers needing to access I-30 from the frontage road will pass through the State Line Ave. intersection and enter the I-30 mainlines at the entrance ramp in Arkansas.

During this time, the North Park Rd. area under I-30 will be closed to vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

The I-30 frontage road system allows traffic to travel east from FM 989/Kings Highway to US 71/State Line and west from US 71/State Line to FM 989/Kings Highway continuously, without ever stopping at a traffic signal.

Officials expect this phase of construction to take 12 months to complete, although inclement weather or unforeseen issues could cause delays or changes in the work schedule.

Drivers can find traffic updates on traffic and more information on the I-30 widening project online.

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