Arkansas DOT’s Road Safety & Big Infrastructure Moves | Little Rock News

Arkansas is turning road safety into a classroom mission with its new “Street Smart” program for teens—covering big trucks, traffic stops, and construction zone dangers—with plans to expand it to elementary kids. Meanwhile, the state’s highway cleanup budget is ballooning, but officials hope smarter driver behavior will slash litter costs and free up cash for potholes and bridges. Big infrastructure wins are on the horizon: a major Jacksonville project is set to finish ahead of schedule, and a massive new Mississippi River bridge linking Memphis and Arkansas could break ground in 2027 at a $1.5 billion price tag. With $2.6 billion invested statewide in active projects, ARDOT is also future-proofing roads for self-driving tech. And in a powerful twist, all 4,000 ARDOT employees are now trained to spot human trafficking signs—blending everyday jobs with life-saving vigilance. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/5cded806b79b58ce