I-40 closed between West Memphis, AR and Little Rock, AR

[Foy]

As of late yesterday (Wednesday, May 4, 2011) Arkansas DOT closed the westbound lanes of I-40 at the White River between Memphis and Little Rock. They fully expect to close the eastbound lanes today (Thursday, May 5, 2011). Closure is expected for "at least a couple of days". They're advising transcontinental traffic originating from well away from Arkansas to route as far north as St Louis and as far south as I-20 to avoid the slow, 2-lane bottleneck detours.

Foy

[Mark Sedenquist]

Foy, Is this related to flooding or something else?

Mark

[Southwest Dave]

The rain swollen White river looks to be the culprit.

Eastbound still open by the looks of things. [2 hours ago]

[Foy]

Foy, Is this related to flooding or something else?

Mark

Belated reply: Yes, much of the segment between Memphis, TN and Little Rock, AR is on the current or former floodplain of the Mississippi River, which changed her course by about 100 miles east to her present position at the end of the last Ice Age, leaving a long dividing ridge (Crowley's Ridge) in the middle of dozens and dozens of miles of table-flat floodplain which the White River now runs through. The White is backing up with Mississippi River floodwaters.

Foy