| Date of Event | ARDOT SFY2026 fourth-quarter construction report; reported Aug. 22, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Primary Location | Future I-69 between Highway 278 and Highway 293 east of Monticello, Drew County |
| Key Entities | ARDOT; WL Bass Construction Inc. |
| Outcome | Completion moved to mid-2027 from late 2026; contract up to about $63.87 million; 61.8% accepted |
MONTICELLO — An 8.25-mile section of future Interstate 69 east of Monticello is now projected to finish in mid-2027, several months later than the late-2026 estimate in the prior quarterly report. The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) lists the change in its State Fiscal Year 2026 fourth-quarter construction report.
I-69 Monticello Section Project Status
- Location: Highway 278 to Highway 293, two lanes of future I-69 on new alignment east of Monticello, Drew County
- Contractor: WL Bass Construction Inc.
- Work started: Feb. 14, 2023
- Progress: 61.8% of the work accepted; 327 of 627 working days assessed, 300 remaining (52.2% of contract time used)
- Current work: Drainage structures, embankment, soil stabilization, a reinforced concrete box culvert, bridge construction and aggregate base course
- Funding: Federal and state money
Why the I-69 Contract Cost Increased
The contract grew from about $61.9 million to about $63.87 million. ARDOT attributes the nearly $2 million increase to added reinforced concrete box culverts and pipe culverts for drainage and agricultural operations, plus extra earthwork and soil stabilization. ARDOT first contemplated about $4 million in added work. Working with agricultural operations turned up options that cost less. ARDOT reports about $39.48 million paid and about $24.39 million remaining.
Related: ARDOT delays Hwy 82 widening between Hamburg and Lake Village. More: Southeast Arkansas road and traffic news and Monticello news. Drivers can check IDriveArkansas.com for current conditions near Highway 278 and Highway 293.
Sources: ARDOT State Fiscal Year 2026 fourth-quarter construction report, Job 020678, filed with the Arkansas Legislative Council Highway Commission Review and Advisory Subcommittee; summary by Deltaplex News (Aug. 22, 2026).
