LITTLE ROCK — The busiest highway interchange in Arkansas is now a little more difficult to travel.
Highway crews began working Wednesday and may continue into Thursday to rearrange lane barriers on southbound Interstate 430 at its interchange with Interstate 630 in west Little Rock.
By 10:30 a.m., the restrictions were in place. Arkansas State Police troopers were present on the shoulder before the southbound traffic narrowed from two lanes to one just past the exit for I-630.
Traffic was moving swiftly through the construction zone despite the restrictions. The highway department over the last week warned motorists to stay away from the area during the work, a message that was also displayed on electronic highway sign boards around the area.
The work started at 9 a.m. after the morning rush. The warning may hold for Thursday too, if rainy weather slows the pace of the work.
Once the lane work is done, the two southbound I-430 lanes through the construction zone will be narrowed and the speed limit will be dropped to 40 mph.
The $124 million project to make the interchange easier to navigate is to continue through 2014.