Interstate 440 (Arkansas)


Interstate 440 forms a partial freeway loop of in Arkansas, connecting I-57 and I-40 with I-30 and I-530 in Little Rock. I-440, known as the East Belt Freeway during planning and construction, travels through much of the area's industrial core in the eastern part of the metropolitan area, near Clinton National Airport and the Port of Little Rock. North of the route continues until it reaches I-57 in Jacksonville. This section is known as the North Belt Freeway.

Route description

I-440 begins at I-30 at a large interchange with I-530. After this interchange, I-440 intersects Highway 365 and Bankhead Drive near Clinton National Airport. The highway continues across Lindsey Road northeast to cross the Arkansas River. I-440 has interchanges with US 165 and US 70 before meeting I-40. On the northside of I-40, I-440 runs northeast to Jacksonville, connecting North Little Rock's easternmost neighborhoods with I-57/US 67/US 167. There are ghost ramps at the terminus. At the time of opening, this segment was designated Highway 440, but was redesignated as I-440 when I-57 was designated along US 67 on November 7, 2024.
To avoid repeating the disturbance of the Fourche Creek floodplain by a causeway section of I-30, most of I-440 between I-30 and the exit leading to the airport is an extended bridge through the floodplain, crossing Fourche Creek several times.

History

The idea of I-440 was first proposed in 1941.
I-440 is part of a planned full loop around the metropolitan area, together with I-430. Part of that effort, an extended route from I-440's east end at I-40 to US 67/US 167, opened in 2003 as Highway 440 and is also part of the North Belt Freeway project. However, completing the North Belt Freeway to I-430 has been put on hold after its cost was estimated at over $600 million. After previously being approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) officially updated the designation of AR 440 to part of I-440 on August 19, 2025.