I-40 East from ABQ

thgoodman wrote:
I'm getting ready to head back East from PHX to NC next week. My preferred route is I-40 but I seem to remember a post on here a while ago that its all orange construction barrels through all of Arkansas (did a search but can't find the post). I could take some surface roads but my rig is pretty big and heavy. Local traffic can be difficult.

Anyone have any current info on I-40 road conditions and any suggestions to avoid problems?

Thank you

Thanks for the replies. Our departure date from PHX will be 5/7. We will spend the 1st night in ABQ.

Keeping an eye on the weather, I hate running the gauntlet across tornado alley.

We just completed a run from Nashville to Needles on I40 - I must say that I10 heading east is worlds better than I40 heading west! Pretty much all the way through Arkansas is either under construction or should be. There are long stretches in Arizona that are in desperate need of resurfacing also.

We picked up I-40 at ALB and drove to Little Rock about two weeks ago. Not a problem, was some work from Conway to Little Rock, but not bad. Roads in AK good OK were a bit bumpy.

I would look at DOT for each state and it will show you the construction zones, also you can look at all the traffic CAMS. Also do not forget about Google Earth, you can see a lot from that app and several like it.

BTY we head to Denver a lot. To get to I40 from PHX we go 87 to Payson, 260 to Heber then 377 to Holbrook. It cuts off about 100 miles and a much more scenic route.

Mr. Tom,

It seems that there is ALWAYS construction in AR. There is a major project on the last couple of miles of I-40 going east just before you get on the Memphis/Arkansas bridge. It's not that bad, just go slow and be careful.

Now the BIG problem is the I-240/I-40 interchange in Memphis going east towards Nashville. No matter how you do it, you have to go through this part of the interstate whether you take the north leg or the south leg..... they will meet up at this major construction project.

TDOT is building a new fly-over bridge that makes traffic come to a crawl (also becomes a parking lot). DO NOT attempt this route during rush hour (morning or evening), you will be parked for quite a while. And like always, there is some goofball that wrecks causing an even bigger headache.

Good luck,
MM.