Temporary traffic signals at the Benton County 40/Northwest McNelly Road bridge east of U.S. 71 will return to active duty Thursday and Friday after a brief shutdown. City officials announced the signals will be in effect from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. on both days to assist with ongoing repair efforts on the structure.
The signals are part of the schedule needed to complete the repair work, which has been underway since July. Drivers who need to cross the bridge on those days should expect delays and plan extra time into their commute. The bridge’s driving surface, or deck, has remained operational throughout the construction, meaning vehicles are able to cross, just with a slight reduction in speed and flow management due to the one-lane closure.
This stretch of road serves as a key connector for people living in the Northwest quadrant of Bentonville and those traveling toward downtown and US 71 South. If you are coming from Pea Ridge or driving down from Bella Vista via Finley, this bridge offers a direct route that bypasses the stoplights on McNelly. When it loses its signal capacity, that shortcut can get clogged quickly.
Timeline of repairs
The situation on the bridge is not a new development; it has been a work in progress for several months. The city initially reduced the bridge to a single lane on May 11. At that time, the closure was triggered by damage to the guardrail on the south side of the span.
Contractors have been slowly chipping away at the repairs, though the pace has fluctuated. Official work to restore the bridge started on
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
