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HARRISON -- The Federal Highway Administration has issued a finding of no significant impact for proposed improvements to portions of a major thoroughfare in the city, clearing the way for the next phase of the project.

The Arkansas Department of Transportation announced the finding in a news release, which states people may find details of the project and the recent findings on the project website.

The purpose of the project is to relieve traffic congestion, enhance safety and restore the condition of U.S. 65, also known as Arkmo Drive, between Industrial Park Road and East Central Avenue, also known as Arkansas 7, according to the release.

The project will widen approximately 2 miles of existing travel lanes as well as widen an existing turn lane. It will also improve drainage and include the construction of intersection improvements and sidewalks, the release states.

Ellen Coulter, spokeswoman for the Arkansas Department of Transportation, said via email the department is now in the right of way acquisition and utility relocation phase of the project. Funds have been secured for the work, which is estimated to cost between $15 million and $20 million, but a bid letting date has not been set, she added.

Before construction can begin, the department will need to obtain a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for work in and around any jurisdictional streams along the project area and a construction stormwater permit and short-term activity authorization from the Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality, Coulter said.

Construction will begin after a bid has been accepted, and the project is expected to be "shovel ready" by early 2027, according to Coulter, who added that start time is preliminary and subject to change.