UPDATE! Improvements Require Lane Closures on U.S. Highway 71B in Bentonville
Information Release
Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department
NR 17-050-01
March 9, 2017
BENTON COUNTY (3-9) – Construction on the Bella Vista Bypass (Highway 549/Future Interstate 49) requires lane closures on U.S. 71B (North Walton Boulevard) in Bentonville, according to Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) officials.
Crews will continue placing asphalt associated with the roundabout construction at I-49. Northbound and southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 71B will alternately be closed just north of the I-49 overpass to 0.4 miles south of the overpass. Mainline I-49 and U.S. Highway 71 will not be affected.
Motorists should expect traffic queuing for short periods of time as only one lane of traffic will remain open during the daily closures, which will be in effect weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The work began Monday, February 27, and due to weather conditions, has been extended through Friday, March 24, weather permitting. Lanes will be restored to two-way operations after 6:00 p.m. Traffic will be controlled using signage and flaggers.
This project is constructing approximately 6 miles of the bypass, extending from Highway 71B to Highway 72 South. The project involves the initial two lanes of a four-lane facility. The project is part of the Connecting Arkansas Program (CAP), which is funded through a 10-year, half-cent sales tax. The CAP's 36 projects in 19 corridors are improving Arkansas' transportation system by expanding selected two-lane roadways to four-lane highways and adding new lanes to identified interstate highways. More information is available at ConnectingArkansasProgram.com.
Drivers should exercise caution when approaching and traveling through all highway work zones. Additional travel information can be found at IDriveArkansas.com or ArkansasHighways.com. You can also follow us on Twitter @AHTD.
