I-430/630 revamp opens first ramp

The first completed section of the Big Rock interchange in west Little Rock is now open.

A new flyover ramp, part of the Interstate 430/Interstate 630 interchange, went into service at 12:15 Saturday afternoon, the state Highway and Transportation Department reported on Twitter.

For the past six years, the interchange has been undergoing a $125 million makeover designed to ease congestion for the 200,000 vehicles that use it daily and for the 300,000 that planners estimate will use it in 20 years.

The interchange is not scheduled to be completed until summer, but state highway officials said they had to open part of it now before beginning work on another section.

The newly opened section includes the flyover ramp, which will take motorists on I-430 north near the South Shackleford Road exit onto I-630 east, and a ramp dedicated for other I-430 north traffic headed to Baptist Health Medical Center.

Both the flyover and the Baptist Health ramp are at Exit 6A on I-430 north. Motorists must make a decision to bear right to a single lane if going to Baptist Health or bear left on one of two lanes leading to the flyover and I-630 east.

Metro on 02/01/2015

Upcoming Events