I-630: Pulaski County

Job CA0608 Baptist Hospital – University Avenue

This project widened approximately 2 miles of Interstate 630 to eight lanes, extending generally from Baptist Hospital to University Avenue in Little Rock.

• Construction Overview
  - Widened to 8 lanes between Baptist Hospital and University Avenue
  - Bridge and overpass construction at John Barrow Road, Rock Creek, Rodney Parham Road, Hughes Street, and University Avenue
  - Noise wall construction
  - All lanes opened to traffic in March 2020
  - Construction was substantially complete in June 2020

Updates:

• Hughes Street Overpass Opens
  After more than two months of construction, the new South Hughes Street Bridge over Interstate 630 in Little Rock opened to traffic in October 2018, three weeks ahead of schedule, according to Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) officials.
  
  The bridge opened Monday, October 1, 2018, reconnecting the Briarwood and University Park neighborhoods. Crews closed the bridge July 20 to demolish the structure and reconstruct it with a wider span as part of the I-630 construction job that is adding additional eastbound and westbound lanes between the Big Rock Interchange and University Avenue.
  
  Construction contractor Manhattan Road & Bridge estimated that it would take 96 days to replace the bridge, resulting in a late October completion. However, crews worked hard to reopen the bridge 23 days early, and Manhattan Road & Bridge will receive an early completion incentive of approximately $76,000.

• Construction Cameras
  Traffic cameras have been installed along the interstate at select locations and can be viewed at IDriveArkansas.com.

• Bid Opening
  Arkansas Department of Transportation opened contractor bids in April 2018. The Arkansas State Highway Commission approved a bid for improvements by Manhattan Road & Bridge Company and awarded the project for $87.4 million. 

• Public Meeting
  A public involvement meeting was held February 3, 2015. The meeting presented and discussed the proposed plans to widen Interstate 630. A flier, comment form, and map can be downloaded here.

• Noise Abatement Summary
  AHTD is moving forward with plans to construct noise walls along Interstate 630 in Noise Study Areas (NSA) 4, 5, and 6. These proposed noise walls are on the north side of I-630, approximately located between North Rodney Parham Road and South McKinley Street. This is based on community support and because of the advantages noise walls have over noise soil berms, including greater noise reduction benefits, less maintenance, and fewer impacts to public use of the right of way. The approved noise walls are proposed to be installed during the widening project, which is estimated to start construction in mid 2017.
  
  
  Figure 3: NSA 4 & 5 - Wall 2 & Wall 3

  Figure 7: NSA 6 - Wall 4
  
  A proposed noise wall in NSA 8 on the south side of I-630 in University Park will not be constructed. More than 50% of benefited residences opposed a noise wall being constructed along Arthur Drive. Download Noise Abatement Summary
• I-630 Noise Study Report
  The I-630 Noise Study Report has been updated since the draft was released in fall 2015. Additional analyses have been conducted to determine the potential for noise barriers in eight Noise Study Areas (NSA) along the I-630 corridor between Baptist Hospital and University Avenue. I-630 Noise Study Report (Updated)

Preliminary Schedule:

View CA0608 Project Map