Interstate 430 Arkansas
Overview
Joining I-30 with I-40, Interstate 430 provides a both a western bypass of Little Rock and a commuter route. The I-430 bridge across the Arkansas River is the lone crossing of the waterway between Downtown Little Rock and Conway, some 25 miles to the northwest.
History
Early plans for both Interstate 430 and I-630 in western Little Rock originated in the mid 1950s. During that time period, University Avenue represented the western extent of the built up area of the capital city. Interstate 430 was constructed initially from Markham Street in west Little Rock to I-40 near Crystal Hill. The route was completed in 1975 at a total cost of $67 million.
The Big Rock Interchange, where I-430 converges with the west end of I-630, opened in 1977. Rapid development along the west side of the exchange resulted in a 400% increase of traffic within the vicinity along both freeways. The Arkansas Highway Commission authorized a study for area improvements in 2004. Plans for the interchange upgrade were announced in 2006.1
The first of three construction phases to rebuild the Big Rock Interchange commenced in January 2009.1 The third phase added two high speed flyovers. The interchange name was derived from a 5 million pound rock formation uncovered during construction. The nearly $150 million project was dedicated on July 8, 2015.2
The diamond interchange (Exit 5) with Shackleford Road on Interstate 430 was added sometime between 1982 to 1984. The addition of the exchange at Exit 5 coincided with expansion of I-430 to eight overall lanes northward from Shackleford Road to Rodney Parham Road (Exit 8).3
Route Information
Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List
I-430 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

No control point was used on older guide signs for I-430 on Interstate 40. 05/30/95
Highway Guides
North End
– North Little Rock, Arkansas
North at
Crossing Murray Lake along the Arkansas River, Interstate 430 converges with AR 100 at a diamond interchange (Exit 12) preceding I-40 in North Little Rock. 09/09/20
Left Exit 13B separates with two lanes from the north end of I-430 to Interstate 40 west 21 miles to Conway. Exit 13A joins a c/d roadway along I-40 east ahead of Highway 100 in North Little Rock. 09/09/20
East
South at
West
North at
North End Throwback
North at
Six lane expansion underway in 2014-16 along I-40 west from Interstate 430 to Highway 365 at Maumelle included extending the third northbound lane on I-430 from Highway 100 to Exit 13B. 05/20/14
East
South at
West
North at
South End
– Little Rock, Arkansas
South at
Southbound Interstate 430 meets AR 5 (Stagecoach Road) at a diamond interchange (Exit 1) along the eastern foothills of Ellis Mountain. Three lanes proceed southward 1.25 miles to Interstate 30. 09/09/20
East
North at
West
South at
South End Throwback
South at
West
South at
All guide signs for Interstate 430 along I-30 from the Mabelvale Pike overpass westward were replaced during construction to relocate Exit 128 to Otter Creek. 05/20/14
Sources:
- Big Rock Interchange Fact Sheet.
http://arkansashighways.com/430_630_Project/Facts_7_8_15.pdfArkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT). - “Big Rock Interchange dedicated.” Arkansas Democrat Gazette (Little Rock, AR), July 8, 2015.
- Price, John; Personal Email, “RE: I-30 Little Rock/Benton 3-lane nears completion” (03/24/06)
- “New I-30 Exit Ramp Opening in LR’s Otter Creek.” Fox16 (Little Rock, AR), December 17, 2014.
- “I-430 interchange widening complete, I-630 widening now on the horizon.” KATV (Little Rock, AR), November 16, 2016.
- I-40: Pulaski County – Connecting Arkansas Program. – Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT), web page.
- I-40 project to give fast-growing central Arkansas city its long-sought ‘third entrance’ Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock), October 25, 2018.
Page updated September 26, 2020.