UPDATE: Lanes have reopened on the I-430 North.
LITTLE ROCK, AR - Lanes are shifting as a new exit at Little Rock's busiest intersection opens Wednesday morning.
"Starting tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, there's going to be two exits where now there's only one," said Glenn Bolick with the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department.
The Highway Department plans on at least one lane closure on I-430 northbound as crews open a new and separate exit off the highway over to Financial Parkway. It's all slated to be complete just in time to confuse drivers during the Wednesday morning commute to work.
"During the peak hours, it's pretty hectic," said driver Kathleen Naylor. "But I really look forward to seeing the finished project."
"It definitely is a madhouse now but if people are patient and look forward to the future I think it will be a good thing," said Steven Helmick, another frequent driver on the interchange.
For those of you heading downtown off 430, good news.
"If you go northbound and you go downtown, there's practically no difference whatsoever," said Bolick.
But watch carefully. Although signs should be up in time, the changes are still confusing.
"We're going to be doing this until the end of 2014 so we're going to have to count on the public to help us through a couple more transitions before it's all done," said Bolick.
After crews beat the deadline last week, the Highway Department is hoping to hold on to the good reputation and keep drivers moving.
All of the shifting is to create room for the cranes contractors will soon bring in to install the beams for further construction on the interchange. That project is slated to begin later this summer, possibly even within the next five weeks.
