Arkansas – Drivers in Jacksonville should prepare for a major weekend traffic change as construction work on Highway 67/167 (Interstate 57) moves into a critical phase, requiring a full closure of Vandenberg Boulevard underneath the interstate.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) announced that Vandenberg Boulevard will be closed between John Harden Drive and N. 1st Street from 8 p.m. Friday, May 1, until 5 a.m. Monday, May 4. The closure will remain in place around the clock and is expected to affect local traffic patterns throughout the weekend.
The work is part of a larger project to widen Highway 67/167 (I-57) to six lanes between Main Street and Vandenberg Boulevard. According to officials, crews will use the closure period to demolish the existing roadway and begin construction on a new section beneath the interstate.
Weather conditions may affect the schedule, but if conditions remain favorable, construction teams will proceed continuously through the weekend window.
During the closure, signed detours will guide drivers around the work zone. Motorists are advised to pay close attention to posted signage and plan for delays, as traffic speeds may be reduced in surrounding areas. Barricades will be in place to block access to the closed section, and construction crews will be active throughout the area.
To help drivers navigate the disruption, ARDOT has outlined specific alternate routes depending on travel direction. Traffic attempting to reach the east side of the closure will be directed to take John Harden Drive south to the N. James Street Bridge, then cross over to TP White Drive east of Highway 67/167 (I-57).
For those needing access to the west side, drivers will be routed south on N. 1st Street to the new Gregory Street Overpass. From there, traffic can cross over and continue to John Harden Drive or Marshall Road west of the interstate.
Officials are also warning that areas near the interstate may experience increased noise levels, especially during nighttime hours while construction work is ongoing.
The Vandenberg Boulevard closure is one segment of a broader infrastructure effort identified as Job CA0604 under ARDOT’s Connecting Arkansas Program. The project carries a price tag of $145.2 million and is designed to improve traffic flow and safety along a heavily traveled corridor in Jacksonville.
In addition to widening Highway 67/167 to six lanes over a 2.5-mile stretch between Main Street (Exit 9) and Vandenberg Boulevard (Exit 11), the project includes multiple interchange upgrades. These include improvements at the James Street interchange (Exit 10A), the Gregory Street interchange (Exit 10B), and the Vandenberg Boulevard interchange itself.
Another major component of the project is the conversion of nearby frontage roads from two-way traffic to one-way operation, a change intended to improve overall traffic efficiency and reduce congestion in the long term.
The Connecting Arkansas Program, which oversees the project, has emphasized that while short-term disruptions are expected, the long-term goal is to modernize key transportation corridors across the state.
More details about the project and ongoing updates can be found at ConnectingArkansasProgram.com.
For now, transportation officials are urging patience from drivers as the weekend closure approaches, reminding the public to slow down in work zones and remain alert for changing traffic conditions.
