Travel between Lawrence County and central Arkansas is about to get easier and quicker. The Arkansas Highway & Transportation Department has announced that the new Hwy. 67 freeway to Walnut Ridge and Hoxie will open with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Aug. 11, hosted by the AHTD and the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce.

With the opening, Lawrence County will be connected all the way to central Arkansas with a divided highway built to interstate freeway standards. In addition to ease of driving, the new roadway is expected to cut 10-15 minutes from the trip. The speed limit on the new roadway will be 70 miles per hour.

The ribbon cutting will take place Aug. 11 at 10 am beneath the Owl City Rd. overpass, which is just south of the intersection of Hwy. 67 and Hwy. 63. The public is invited to attend, and the new highway will officially open to drivers just after the ceremony ends.