Fayetteville, Arkansas – Community members, state leaders, and transportation officials will gather on Thursday, November 6, at 11 a.m. to officially break ground on the first phase of a long-awaited infrastructure project that promises to transform the Highway 112 Corridor in Northwest Arkansas. The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT), in partnership with the Arkansas Highway Commission, the City of Fayetteville, and the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, will lead the ceremony at the ARDOT Maintenance Office located at 3518 Highway 112 in Fayetteville.
Highway Expansion Begins with Safety and Connectivity in Mind
This initial project is the first of eight planned improvements for Highway 112, which stretches between Fayetteville and Bentonville. The upcoming construction will widen a 1.44-mile section of the highway from two lanes to four between Truckers Drive and Howard Nickell Road in Fayetteville. The design includes the addition of three roundabouts, two designated turnaround points, and a new pedestrian and bicycle tunnel beneath the roadway.
“The Highway 112 Widening Project represents ARDOT’s commitment to improving safety and connectivity for all who use this corridor,” said ARDOT Director Jared D. Wiley. “The inclusion of roundabouts will enhance traffic flow and reduce congestion at key intersections. The new shared-use tunnel will provide a safe, inclusive crossing for cyclists and pedestrians.”
The full Highway 112 Corridor plan envisions an 18-mile, four-lane roadway with a landscaped center median, stretching from Fayetteville to Bentonville. Upon completion, the corridor will offer improved traffic flow, safer intersections, and multimodal accessibility that meets the growing demands of Northwest Arkansas.
The groundbreaking comes as part of a broader infrastructure effort supported by local and regional agencies. The $43.9 million construction contract for this first segment was awarded to APAC-Central, Inc., a Fayetteville-based firm with extensive experience in roadway expansion projects.
Thursday’s ceremony is open to the public and expected to draw local leaders, industry stakeholders, and community residents excited to see long-term investments in regional mobility begin to take shape.
