Construction for I-30 bridge in Little Rock nears completion; businesses in the area hoping it brings more customers

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.- Businesses and employees are ready for construction to be complete on Interstate 30 as they have dealt with changing routes and road closures.

The Interstate 30 Arkansas River Bridge connects North Little Rock to Little Rock and has been under construction since 2020. Arkansas Department of Transportation officials said the bridge will open up in three phases.

“It seems like there’s just always been a little bit of congestion right there on I-30, we are really excited about opening that up,” restaurant co-owner Kevin Doroski said.

Phase one begins in early October and includes detours of I-30 westbound traffic onto Cypress Street in North Little Rock and the southbound frontage road in Little Rock to allow crews to open and close ramps and prepare for the new traffic pattern.

Phase one will open the on-ramp for Broadway Street, the off-ramp for 4th Street, and the I-630 westbound on-ramp. It will close the on-ramp for Bishop Lindsey Avenue and off-ramp for 6th Street.

Then, in phase two, which is set to be completed in mid-October, traffic will still be detoured westbound, and all six lanes will be opened to traffic on the new I-30 westbound river bridge.

Phase three will complete the construction in early November, with I-30 eastbound traffic being detoured onto the northbound frontage road in Little Rock and North Locust Street in North Little Rock to allow crews to prepare for new traffic patterns where all six lanes open to traffic on the I-30 eastbound river bridge.

Doroski’s restaurant, Draft + Table, is located in Argenta on Broadway Street, one of the areas that will begin to see the orange barrels and road closures removed, making traffic easier for everyone.

“Not just for coming and going here for the customers but you know our staff having issues getting in,” Doroski said.

People traveling on 4th Street and within Little Rock’s East End area have also experienced traffic and construction frustrations.

“Dealing with the traffic in this area has been a lot, but now, with those opening up, I think it will help out a lot with this area,” Quinton Cage said.

Cage travels to East End for work daily, saying he feels like there are different routes and road closures monthly while construction of the bridge is in full swing. He’s thankful it’s all coming to an end.

Doroski is also hoping that as the construction ends and access to and from the areas becomes easier, customers will increase.

“I’m just excited to get some new faces in here,” Doroski said.

More information on the construction and detours can be found on ARDOT’s Facebook page .

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