Kings Highway/I-30 Overpass Is Coming Down This Week

Drivers in Texarkana in Bowie County should prepare for significant traffic changes as FM 989, better known as the Kings Highway bridge over Interstate 30, is scheduled to close beginning Thursday, June 11, at approximately 9 AM.

The closure is necessary to allow crews to demolish and replace the bridge as part of the ongoing I-30 widening project through Texarkana.

Interstate 30 Traffic to Be Shifted to Frontage Roads (Both Ways)

Beginning at midnight on Saturday, June 13, all I-30 traffic through the construction area will be diverted onto frontage roads for approximately one week, weather permitting.

Under the temporary traffic pattern:

• Westbound I-30 traffic will exit at Summerhill Road (Exit 222) and travel along the frontage road before re-entering the interstate west of FM 989.
• Eastbound I-30 traffic will exit at FM 989/Kings Highway (Exit 218) and use the frontage road before returning to I-30 between Summerhill Road and State Line Avenue.

Motorists traveling on the frontage roads will pass through the FM 989 intersections without stopping. Traffic on FM 989/Kings Highway will be required to stop at the frontage road intersections.

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New Bridge to Improve Safety and Capacity

The replacement bridge will be built higher and wider than the existing structure. The current bridge provides less than 17 feet of clearance over I-30, while the new bridge will meet updated standards with 18.5 feet of vertical clearance.

TxDOT says the new bridge will feature:

• Five lanes of traffic
• One 12-foot inside lane in each direction
• One 14-foot shared-use lane in each direction for motorists and cyclists
• A 16-foot flush median
• Six-foot sidewalks on both sides for pedestrians

A new east-to-west turnaround bridge will also be constructed on the west side of FM 989. The existing west-to-east turnaround bridge on the east side will remain but will be closed during construction.

Construction Expected to Last 19 Months

TxDOT estimates the bridge replacement project will take approximately 19 months to complete, although timelines could change due to weather or other unforeseen factors.

Once interstate traffic is moved back onto I-30, drivers will encounter a new eastbound traffic pattern as widening work continues. Additional details on that configuration are expected to be released soon. Westbound traffic will return to two traditional travel lanes after temporary concrete barriers are removed.

Drivers can monitor road conditions and construction updates through the Texas Department of Transportation's DriveTexas website.

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