LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — One of the busiest highways in Arkansas has been upgraded, enhancing access into the downtowns of Little Rock and North Little Rock. The project, located in a congested urban area, adds capacity and provides operational improvements for local and regional travelers.

Part of the Connecting Arkansas Program, the project included the interstate highway widening, interchange modifications, local roadway improvements and a major river crossing over the McClelland-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS). The bridge and roadway design included the replacement of a 3,360-foot bridge over the Arkansas River, as well as other improvements to other bridges on Interstate 30 and the widening of I-30 through Little Rock and North Little Rock.

Construction began in the fall of 2020 and followed an innovative design-build delivery method that incorporated an optimization and refinement period after award, the first of its kind for the Arkansas Department of Transportation. This approach allowed for more collaboration between the owner and design-build team to refine the project scope, improve work packaging and minimize disruptions to the flow of traffic during construction.

Burns & McDonnell was the lead designer on the Kiewit-Massman Construction (KMC) team, a joint venture between Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. of Fort Worth, Texas, and Massman Construction Co. of Kansas City, Missouri. Our team provided design management along with bridge, roadway, drainage, traffic and maintenance of traffic design.

“By leveraging our experience in bridge design, we were able to cut costs and speed up construction,” says Andy Fries, project manager at Burns & McDonnell. “This enabled us to implement this community enhancement more quickly, leading to a safer and more connected Arkansas.”

The owner and design-build team overcame many challenges to make this project successful, including navigating the workforce and supply chain issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The project’s success is a testament to the collaboration facilitated by the delivery method and shared commitment of the owner and project team.

About Burns & McDonnell

Working from more than 75 offices around the world, Burns & McDonnell designs and builds critical infrastructure. Our family of companies — driven by engineers, construction professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists — delivers projects grounded in safety and a desire to make a difference as we make our clients successful. Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned. Learn more.