U.S. 71 closed north of Mountainburg (Updated)

Both lanes of U.S. Highway 71 in an area north of Mountainburg will be closed for up to two weeks, according to Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) officials.

The closed portion of the road is located just south of the entrance to Lake Fort Smith State Park on U.S. 71. Northbound and southbound traffic have been alternately sharing one lane to get through the construction area in recent weeks. The AHTD statement said a contractor repairing flood damage on the section of road discovered additional instability.

“We’ve experienced instability of the ground that has caused some additional sliding, making it unsafe to leave the roadway open,” Joe Shipman, AHTD District Four Engineer, said in the statement. “To ensure motorists’ safety, we have closed the highway completely while the contractor makes permanent repairs.”

Those traveling to Lake Fort Smith State Park will need to enter from the north side of the entrance, meaning exiting Interstate 540 at the Winslow or West Fork exits. Large vehicles or longer combinations of vehicles are urged to use Highway 170 rather than Highway 74 to access Highway 71, according to the AHTD.

Updated info: A 2007 AHTD traffic survey of the segment of U.S. 71 that is now closed showed a daily traffic count of 2,200 vehicles.