Arkansas Roads: Safety, Cleanup, and Big Bridges | Little Rock News

Arkansas is gearing up to keep teens road-safe with a new “Street Smart” program teaching them how to handle big trucks, police stops, and construction zones—plus a kid-friendly version in the works. Meanwhile, ARDOT’s litter cleanup budget is soaring past $10 million this year, aiming to free up funds for potholes and bridges while boosting the state’s curb appeal. A major Jacksonville highway project, long delayed, is now on track to finish this fall after years of work. And looming on the horizon: a $1.5 billion bridge connecting Memphis and Arkansas, slated to begin construction in 2027 and open by the early 2030s. Altogether, these initiatives represent a $2.6 billion infrastructure push—with even more forward-thinking goals like self-driving car readiness—and every ARDOT employee is now trained to spot human trafficking signs. 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/b9307ca1eec88fa2