I-30 Frontage Road Project Overview

The I-30 frontage road project is the most extensive and expensive highway reconstruction project in Texarkana history. The $153.5 million project will address Texarkana’s growing pains and traffic congestion along I-30 by:

  • converting all frontage roads along the I-30 corridor to one-way,
  • filling in gaps in the frontage roads between Kings Highway (FM 989) in Nash and Jefferson Avenue on the Arkansas side,
  • relocating entrance and exit ramps, and
  • adding and reconstructing overpasses along the route.

Traffic Congestion

The I-30 corridor has long had problems with traffic congestion, especially where commercial development has blossomed near Richmond and Summerhill Roads. The primary cause of the congestion is too many vehicles trying to pass through too many signalized intersections. Currently, there are two signalized intersections on each side of the interstate – one each for the frontage roads and one each for the exit and entrance ramps.

One-Way Frontage Roads

The new one-way frontage roads will help to remedy this problem in several ways.

  • The one-way direction will take one direction off each signalized intersection.
  • Two full intersections will be removed as the exit and entrance ramps are merged into the frontage roads.
  • The frontage roads will be moved under the crossroads next to the interstate traffic lanes. Traffic will not need to exit the frontage roads and go through a signalized intersection unless they want to get onto a particular crossroad.
  • Turn-around bridges will be constructed on each side of the crossroad overpasses to allow traffic to travel to the opposite frontage road without having to pass through the crossroad intersection.

Overpasses

The overpasses at Richmond and Summerhill Roads will be completely reconstructed to allow room for the new frontage roads to be built underneath them. This will be done after the turn-around bridges are built on each side so traffic will still be able to use the roadways.

Additional overpasses will be constructed at University Avenue between US 59 and Kings Highway and at Pavilion Parkway, which will connect traffic between the Richmond Ranch development and the Lowes/Wal-Mart shopping areas.

The interchange of US 59 with I-30 will also be completely reconstructed to allow direct access to and from I-30 through interlacing overpasses. Turn-arounds will be constructed at the intersection of US 59 at New Boston Road (US 82) underneath the loop.

The interchange with State Line Avenue (US 59/71) will be completely reconstructed to do away with the old-fashioned clover-leaf design. The Jefferson Avenue overpass is already being reconstructed under a separate contract by the Arkansas Department of Highways and Transportation and will eventually tie into this frontage road project.

In addition to construction, the project also includes landscaping along the frontage roads throughout the project.