The westbound lanes of Interstate 40 in eastern Arkansas remained closed for a fifth day Tuesday because of flooding in the region, though the eastbound lanes have reopened, according to the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department.
The affected area is a 23-mile stretch between Brinkley and Hazen in eastern Arkansas due to flooding on the White River, a department spokesman said.
The department did not know when the westbound lanes would reopen, the spokesman told Transport Topics. The eastbound lanes had been closed for four days.
I-40 is a key east-west truck route linking Little Rock, Ark., with Memphis, Tenn. The White River flows through northwest Arkansas and connects with the Mississippi River neat Batesville, Ark. It has been at flood stage since last week.
As worries persist that flooding would disrupt fuel production and distribution, gasoline futures rose, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. Gasoline futures gained 3.1%, on top of a 6.1% gain on Monday, the largest increase since July 2009.
The Mississippi River’s flooding from Memphis south could impact two Louisiana oil refineries, according to Gov. Bobby Jindal’s office, Bloomberg said.
One refinery might have capacity cut to 75% for two weeks, according to the Louisiana’s Department of Natural Resources. No decision has been made by the corps, Bloomberg reported.
