Jacksonville, Arkansas – Nighttime construction activity connected to a major highway expansion project will soon bring temporary traffic changes to Jacksonville. Transportation officials announced that a section of Vandenberg Boulevard will close overnight for several days while crews continue work on a large bridge and highway widening project along Highway 67/167, which is also designated as Interstate 57.
The temporary closure is scheduled to take place nightly from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., beginning Sunday night, March 15, through Saturday morning, March 21. During those hours, Vandenberg Boulevard between John Harden Drive and N. 1st Street will be closed to traffic.
Nighttime Closure Needed for Bridge Construction
Officials said the closure is required as part of ongoing construction work designed to expand the highway and improve travel through the area. Weather permitting, crews will shut down the roadway underneath Highway 67/167 (I-57) so workers can safely install bridge beams for a new structure being built above the road.
Because beam placement involves heavy equipment and large structural materials, the area must be cleared of traffic to protect both drivers and construction crews.
Motorists traveling through Jacksonville during the overnight construction period will be directed around the work zone using marked detour routes. Officials said signed detours will be in place to help guide drivers safely around the closure.
Drivers who need to reach the east side of the Vandenberg Boulevard closure will be directed to take John Harden Drive south and then use the N. James Street Bridge. From there, motorists can cross the highway and continue to TP White Drive east of Highway 67/167 (I-57).
Motorists trying to reach the west side of the closure will follow a different route. Drivers will travel south on N. 1st Street and then use the new Gregory Street Overpass to cross the interstate. After crossing, they can reach John Harden Drive or Marshall Road west of Highway 67/167 (I-57).
Construction officials noted that traffic control measures will be visible in the area throughout the overnight work period. Barricades and signage will be used to alert drivers and direct vehicles safely along the detour routes.
Drivers traveling through the construction area are encouraged to slow down, remain alert, and expect possible delays. Officials also warned that areas close to the interstate may experience noise during nighttime hours due to construction equipment and bridge installation work.
The overnight closures are part of a much larger highway improvement project currently underway in Jacksonville. The work falls under the Arkansas Department of Transportation’s Connecting Arkansas Program, which aims to modernize key highways across the state.
The project, known as Job CA0604, includes widening 2.5 miles of Highway 67 to six lanes between Main Street (Exit 9) and Vandenberg Boulevard (Exit 11). In addition to adding lanes, the project includes upgrades to several nearby interchanges, including the James Street interchange (Exit 10A), the Gregory Street interchange (Exit 10B), and the Vandenberg Boulevard interchange (Exit 11).
Another significant change involves converting nearby frontage roads from two-way traffic to one-way travel, a move intended to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion around the highway corridor.
The highway expansion is a major investment in regional infrastructure, with the entire effort carrying a price tag of approximately $145.2 million. Transportation leaders say the improvements will help support future traffic growth, enhance safety, and make travel through Jacksonville more efficient once construction is complete.
Until then, drivers are urged to remain cautious when traveling through the area and to follow posted signs as the nighttime closures take place throughout the week.
