Whether coming or going on Sheridan Road in White Hall near Interstate 530, it’s often long lines and aggravation. Weekdays around mid-afternoon, it’s even worse, say city officials.
According to traffic counts, there are about 8,900 vehicles traveling on the three-lane road on the west side of I-530 each day, with about 13,000 traveling on the east side during the same period.
That’s about to change as the Arkansas Department of Transportation’s widening of the busy road to five lanes gets started in earnest in a few months.
The widening will extend approximately two miles on either side of the interstate and will cost an estimated $20 million.
“This project will widen the existing highway to four lanes with a center left turn lane and include the addition of curbs and gutters with storm drains and sidewalks along both sides of the highway,” said Deric Wyatt, the highway department’s District 2 Engineer who is overseeing the project.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The widening will run from the intersection of U.S. 270 and Arkansas 365-S to Arkansas 104 to Arkansas 365.
Prior to the start of the construction in early 2021, Wyatt said, the department is in the process of acquiring property rights of way. It is acquiring property at various locations with the majority of the acquisitions occurring on the east side of the interstate.
“For the most part, we should be able to utilize the existing ROW’s to the west of I-530,” Wyatt said.
The acquisition is about 65% complete and the utility relocation is about 35% complete at this time, Wyatt said.
The work also includes utility relocation to accommodate the road widening, according to Wyatt, who said if this phase is completed on-time, job bid advertisements should happen in January.
The bid process is expected to start the next month, with work starting in the spring.
It will take approximately two to three years to complete the project, he said.
Traffic flow may hit a few bumps before it gets better as work requires traffic interruptions and lane closures.
“One of the many challenges on this project will be maintaining traffic [flow] during all phases of construction through this busy area with numerous restaurants, hotels, businesses and residential areas,” Wyatt said.
Noel Foster, White Hall mayor, said, “The inconvenience will be worth it.”
Between the businesses and vehicles coming off the interstate, Foster said, congestion in that area is a problem.
“It’s going to be big.,” the mayor said. “For us, a five-lane road is like getting high speed internet.”