Arkansas Awarded $27 Million Contract for U.S. 82 Bridge
The project will replace a flood-prone underpass in Buckner to improve transit reliability for regional logistics.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Construction
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The Arkansas Department of Transportation awarded a $27 million contract to Mobley Contractors to replace a flood-prone highway underpass with a new bridge on U.S. 82. This infrastructure upgrade will address ongoing safety and drainage issues near Buckner.
Why it matters
The transition from a flood-prone underpass to an overpass aims to eliminate recurring traffic disruptions and safety risks for regional operators. By building for future U.S. 82 widening, the project creates a more reliable corridor for commercial freight movement.
Mobley Contractors secured the $27,033,828.20 contract, which covers 6,630 feet of new roadway featuring two 12-foot lanes in each direction. The project includes an 856-foot overpass structure with 8-foot-wide shoulders.
The players
Arkansas Department of Transportation
The state agency responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of the highway infrastructure network.
Mobley Contractors
A construction firm specializing in large-scale infrastructure and highway improvement projects.
Union Pacific Railroad
A major freight railway network that operates the tracks intersecting the planned overpass site.
The details
The project replaces the current underpass with an elevated bridge spanning Union Pacific Railroad tracks to resolve persistent flooding and accident risks. Crews will perform extensive earthwork, drainage improvements, and pavement removal to realign the road into a broader curve terminating at the Dorcheat Bayou bridge. Railroad operations are scheduled to continue without interruption throughout the construction phase.
Timeline
October 1, 2026: Contract award reported.
Market Landscape
This project follows a pattern of state-led infrastructure investment to eliminate systemic traffic bottlenecks on critical freight corridors. It aligns with broader state efforts to modernize aging transit assets to accommodate future highway capacity requirements.
Operators using the U.S. 82 corridor in Columbia County should monitor the Arkansas Department of Transportation for impending traffic pattern changes and scheduling updates. Businesses relying on this route for logistics should evaluate potential transit delays during the site alignment and earthwork phases.
The takeaway
Reliability in regional transit often hinges on replacing aging underpasses that fail to account for modern traffic volume and extreme weather events. Operators should review their own supply chain routes for similar infrastructure bottlenecks that may impact delivery timelines during peak flood seasons.
Further reading
For additional updates on major state infrastructure initiatives, visit Construction.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Magnolia Reporter - Magnolia, Arkansas News.
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