Phillips County, Arkansas – Highway 318 north of Lambrook is set for a full closure next week as crews prepare to carry out infrastructure work that officials say cannot be completed while traffic is flowing through the area.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation announced that Highway 318 between County Road 607/470 and County Road 612/444 will shut down around the clock beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday, July 6. The closure is scheduled to remain in place until 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, weather permitting.
The work is tied to a culvert replacement project, a task that typically requires full access to the roadway to ensure proper installation and long-term drainage stability. Officials say the closure is necessary for both safety and efficiency while crews complete the repair.
During this time, Highway 318 will not function as a through route. However, it will remain open to local traffic on either side of the closure, allowing residents and businesses in the immediate area to access nearby sections of the roadway.
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Drivers passing through the region will need to follow a marked detour that routes traffic across several highways in both directions. The detour has been designed to keep vehicles moving while avoiding the construction zone entirely.
For those traveling toward the north side of the closure, the detour will direct motorists south on Highway 318 to Highway 20, then east on Highway 20 to Highway 44. From there, traffic will continue east on Highway 44 to Highway 85, then north on Highway 85 to Highway 49. The route continues west on Highway 49 to Highway 316, and finally west again on Highway 316 back to Highway 318.
Travelers heading toward the south side of the closure will follow a reverse-style route. Drivers will go north on Highway 318 to Highway 316, then east on Highway 316 to Highway 49. From there, the detour continues east on Highway 49 to Highway 85, south on Highway 85 to Highway 44, west on Highway 44 to Highway 20, and finally west on Highway 20 back to Highway 318.
Officials are urging drivers to plan ahead, especially those who regularly use this stretch of road for commuting or transporting goods. With multiple highway connections involved in the detour, travel times are expected to increase during the closure period.
To help guide motorists, crews will place digital message boards, construction barrels, barricades, and warning signs along key points near the closure and along detour routes. These measures are intended to reduce confusion and improve safety for both drivers and construction workers in the area.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation emphasized that the schedule is weather dependent, meaning delays or changes could occur if conditions are not suitable for construction work. Any updates will be communicated through official channels.
For additional information, travelers are encouraged to check IDriveArkansas.com or ARDOT.gov, where real-time updates and travel advisories are posted.
While the closure may create temporary inconvenience for drivers in and around Lambrook, officials say the culvert replacement is an important maintenance project designed to improve long-term road conditions and prevent future infrastructure issues in the area.
Once the work is completed, Highway 318 is expected to reopen fully, restoring normal traffic flow between the affected county roads and reconnecting the primary route through the region.
