Federal Highway Administrator Mary E. Peters toured a construction site on U.S. Highway 67/167 in North Little Rock June 16 in an effort to promote new technologies intended to make roads last longer and save money.

Highway 67/167 is the main corridor in and out of Little Rock from the north. About 80,000 vehicles travel the road each day. The highway is currently a four-lane divided roadway that is often congested, especially during morning and afternoon rush hours, and is difficult for many drivers to access from the frontage roads that run parallel to it, Peters said.

“Transportation moves the American economy,” Peters said. “When complete, this project will improve the quality of life for the families who commute to jobs, schools and stores using this route.”

The technologies that are part of the project include high-strength, longer-lasting concrete, maintenance-free steel beams and higher visibility road markings. These are expected to result in reduced maintenance costs, Peters said.

“Our goal is to provide reliable and lasting solutions to the thousands of frustrated drivers who for years have been forced to maneuver through the Highway 67/167 bottleneck to get to their jobs and their families,” said Peters.

The $59 million corridor project will widen the highway to six lanes, relocate entrance and exit ramps, and add connectors between the frontage roads. Improving traffic flow on the road will help existing and new businesses by cutting delivery costs, improving customer access and easing nearby congestion, Peters said.

The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department is in charge of the project, with oversight by the Federal Highway Administration.