Interstate 630 Arkansas
Overview
Interstate 630 stretches across the city of Little Rock from the western suburbs to University Park, Forest Hills, Capital View and Downtown. The western end is the Big Rock Interchange, named for a large rock formation unearthed during 2009-15 reconstruction of the exchange with I-430 and Chenal Parkway. The eastern terminus at I-30 and 15th Street lies between MacArthur Park and the Hanger Hill Historic District. An 880 foot long viaduct spans the Union Pacific (UP) Railroad, Thayer and Rice Streets at Capitol Hill. East from there, I-630 drops below grade to the south of the Arkansas State Capitol.
History
Interstate 630 (Wilbur D. Mills Freeway) was constructed along the proposed alignment of the “Eighth Street Expressway.”1 Construction began in the 1960s, with the initial section completed between Cedar/Pine Streets and the viaduct across the UP Railroad by 1971. The succeeding segment extended I-630 west to University Avenue by 1976.
The eastern end of I-630 temporarily connected with Maryland Avenue / 9th Street east and 8th Street west at Park Street in the Capital Hill neighborhood. 8th Street constituted a one-way, westbound street with three lanes. 9th Street flowed eastbound with three lanes one block to the south. The couplet carried the bulk of traffic to Interstate 30. Construction of I-630 directly replaced a portion of 8th Street east from Park Street. Bridges spanning the two mile stretch between Park Street and I-30 were date stamped in 1979 or 1980.2
When Interstate 630 was built west from University Avenue to I-430 at Shackleford Road, the freeway concluded at a signalized T-intersection across from a stand of trees. Financial Centre Parkway and the two office complexes that make up Financial Centre west of Shackleford Road were yet to be built.3
When Financial Centre was developed in the early 1980s, a short segment of Financial Centre Parkway opened west from I-630 and Shackleford Road. The extension west to Rock Creek Parkway (since renamed Chenal Parkway) was built by the early 1990s. Chenal Parkway was eventually extended to Arkansas 10.3
Plans to modify the dangerous intersection at the west end of I-630 advanced during the 2005-2006 time frame.3 This led to the six-year long Big Rock Interchange project. $150-million in work upgraded the former cloverleaf interchange between I-430 and I-630 with new flyover ramps while adding overpasses above Shackleford Road linking with Financial Centre Parkway.4 Additional work added collector distributor roadways along I-630 east to the interchange (Exit 7) for Baptist Health Medical Center. interchange along I-630 with new collector distributor roadways. Work wrapped up with a dedication ceremony held on July 8, 2015.5
Route Information
Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List
I-630 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)
Interstate 630 ran east from University Avenue to the Arkansas State Capitol at Park Street in 1976. Construction lengthened the route west to I-430 in 1977.

I-430 south at I-630 east – May 28, 1995

The east end of I-630 – May 28, 1995
Highway Guides
East End
/ 15th Street – Little Rock, Arkansas
East at
East
North at
West
South at
West End
at Financial Centre Pkwy and Shackleford Rd – Little Rock, Arkansas
West at
North at
Interstate 430 shifts east through an S-curve through the exchange (Exit 5) with Shackleford Road leading north to the cloverstack interchange (Exit 6A) with I-630 east and Financial Centre Parkway west. 09/09/20
South at
Financial Centre Pkwy – East at
West End Throwback
West at
North at
South at
Sources:
- Little Rock Realtors Association – History,
http://www.littlerockrealtorsassoc.com/history.htmwhich states: “In the early 60’s [Little Rock Realtor Association] Board Committees worked with the [Arkansas] Highway Department to minimize the problems associated with the widening of Highway #10, and worked with the City of Little Rock to provide appraisers needed to appraise properties along the proposed 8th Street Expressway (now known as I-630).” - Price, John; Personel Email, “I-630 Little Rock” (03/24/06)
- Price, John; Personal Email, “RE: I-30 Little Rock/Benton 3-lane nears completion” (03/24/06)
- 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.
Page updated September 26, 2020.