Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[shoptb1]

Just returned from a trip home to see the folks in Arkansas, and it looks as though AHTD has extended US-67 about 10 miles further past Newport up to AR-226.  (I think this is probably old news...but the first time I've seen it..hehe) This is a big leap as it brings traffic even closer to Jonesboro and Walnut Ridge.  Work has begun on the next portion, which I'm guessing would bring the freeway all the way up to Walnut Ridge.  Interestingly enough, when driving on the current alignment of US-67 south from Walnut Ridge to AR-226, there's an interesting naming method for US-67 (as shown here):



Question though...is there any freeway segment planned to connect US-67 to the I-69 freeway corridor over near Dyersburg, TN?  Maybe I'm the only one here, but the route that I take from Columbus, OH down to central Arkansas is as follows:

I-71S to Louisville, KY
I-65S to Elizabethtown, KY
Western KY Parkway W to I-24W
I-24W to Purchase Parkway S
Purchase Parkway S to Fulton, KY
US-51S/US-412W to Dyersburg, TN
I-155W to END I-155W/US-412W in Hayti, MO
US-412W to US-67S in Walnut Ridge, AR
US-67S to new alignment of US-67 near Cash, AR
US-67S to US-64W in Beebe, AR
US-64W to I-40W in Conway, AR
I-40 to Russellville, AR

There are three big gaps in freeway/divided highway here (shown in red above): US-412W from Kennett, MO to Walnut Ridge, AR; US-67S from Walnut Ridge, AR to Cash, AR; US-64 from Beebe, AR to I-40 in Conway, AR.  

I know the US-64 deal would probably never happen although it does cut about 30 mins off having to go all the way to Little Rock and back up.  However, a freeway connection from US-67 to I-155 and eventually I-69 would seem like a great thing...maybe even via Jonesboro/US-63?  Thoughts?

[Revive 755]

I think the US 412 and US 67 sections marked in red above will be seeing at least four lanes sometime in the future.  US 67 seems likely to become a freeway to near the Missouri border, but I haven't heard or really see any freeway upgrades for US 412 right now, except maybe a couple bypass sections.

The interchange on US 67's bypass of Walnut Ridge, AR though looks like it could handle a freeway tie in if something develops for the US 412 corridor (though I thought I read somewhere around here that US 67 freeway would tie into the northern half of the interchange):

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=36.067868,-90.931692&spn=0.013113,0.041199&t=k&z=16

[huskeroadgeek]

I'm amazed at how slow the progress on the US 67 freeway has been. The first time I was ever on the road in 1992, it ended at AR 14. It eventually over the next few years made it to AR 384 and a 2003 Arkansas map I have has it ending at AR 18. It took them over 10 years just to get a bypass of Newport. Now it looks like they are finally getting somewhere with it.

Also, though I don't know whether they have any plans to do so, I think making US 64 4 lanes between Beebe and Conway would be very helpful. When I lived in Searcy, I used to travel it a lot, and it was usually pretty busy with a lot of truck traffic.

[US71]

Just returned from a trip home to see the folks in Arkansas, and it looks as though AHTD has extended US-67 about 10 miles further past Newport up to AR-226.

The Newport-226 section was opened last October. Construction is underway to 412, but no money is available for anything north of that.

[codyg1985]

I find it interesting that the NB control city for US 67 along the freeway portions is St. Louis, even though the road is two lanes for much of the route to St. Louis.

[shoptb1]

I find it interesting that the NB control city for US 67 along the freeway portions is St. Louis, even though the road is two lanes for much of the route to St. Louis.

Exactly.  It shows that the long-term intention would be a freeway corridor from Little Rock to St Louis, although Arkansas doesn't seem very committed to make that happen any time soon.

[US71]

I find it interesting that the NB control city for US 67 along the freeway portions is St. Louis, even though the road is two lanes for much of the route to St. Louis.

Exactly.  It shows that the long-term intention would be a freeway corridor from Little Rock to St Louis, although Arkansas doesn't seem very committed to make that happen any time soon.

No money

[shoptb1]

No money

I hold the population of Arkansas responsible for this; they continue to vote down the ability for AHTD to renew/float bonds in order to debt finance new construction/maintenance operations.  The "pay as you go" mentality is only useful in keeping Arkansas 30 years behind the current transportation needs.

[froggie]

The catch with bonds, though, as PennDOT found out 30 years ago and NJDOT is finding out now, is how are you gonna pay for them?

There are cases where using bonds may be justifiable or the preferred method.  But in a general sense, using bonds (especially EXCESSIVE use of bonds) just kicks the can to the next generation...

[shoptb1]

The catch with bonds, though, as PennDOT found out 30 years ago and NJDOT is finding out now, is how are you gonna pay for them?

There are cases where using bonds may be justifiable or the preferred method.  But in a general sense, using bonds (especially EXCESSIVE use of bonds) just kicks the can to the next generation...

I'm not advocating bond financing beyond reasonable levels, but the idea that any large governmental project can be ran on cash is not very realistic.  The major maintenance projects to repave Arkansas' interstate system during the last 10 years were a good example of a well-run, well-executed, and much-needed investment.  If Arkansas ever wants to be able to win any of the big manufacturing bids that they keep making, they're going to need to be able to prove that goods can be transported from one place to another.  In short, you have to make an initial investment in order to make profits later.  

[bugo]

Has there been any discussion about making parts of Future I-30 into a toll road?  If there is no money for the road, that might be the best option to get the road built.

[cbalducc]

How many years has the four-laning project for US 67 lasted?  Wasn't much of the road four-laned in the 1970s?  God bless.

[bugo]

How many years has the four-laning project for US 67 lasted?  Wasn't much of the road four-laned in the 1970s?  God bless.

It went to about Cabot in the 1970s.  It was extended in the 80s, 90s, and 10s to where it ends now.

[US71]

How many years has the four-laning project for US 67 lasted?  Wasn't much of the road four-laned in the 1970s?  God bless.

It went to about Cabot in the 1970s.  It was extended in the 80s, 90s, and 10s to where it ends now.

How many years has the four-laning project for US 67 lasted?  Wasn't much of the road four-laned in the 1970s?  God bless.

It went to about Cabot in the 1970s.  It was extended in the 80s, 90s, and 10s to where it ends now.

The section north of Newport took a long time to build.

[qguy]

I was a young lieutenant (any veteran will say, "Is there any other kind?") at Little Rock AFB in the late 80s. One of my responsibilities was commanding one of the base honor guard details. This meant traveling the region by van. Not having US 67 as a freeway past Beebe (or so--memory fails) made travel a lot slower than it could've been.

Anyone know when the section under construction from AR 226 to US 412 is projected to be finished?

[US71]

Anyone know when the section under construction from AR 226 to US 412 is projected to be finished?

A quick search turns up nothing except "pending funding"

I have a vague, hazy memory of the 4-Lane ending at Searcy at some point in the past.

[bugo]

I remember when the freeway ended in south Newport and one had to take AR 14 and 17 to get back to the original US 67.  I also remember it ending at AR 18 at an at-grade intersection and a traffic light.

[qguy]

Anyone know when the section under construction from AR 226 to US 412 is projected to be finished?

Am I mistaken in thinking that this section (between AR 226 to US 412) is currently under construction?

[US71]

Anyone know when the section under construction from AR 226 to US 412 is projected to be finished?

Am I mistaken in thinking that this section (between AR 226 to US 412) is currently under construction?

I couldn't find anything, but Google Maps seems to show it u/c to AR 230 east of Alicia with what appears to be an interchange at CR 192.

[Grzrd]

Anyone know when the section under construction from AR 226 to US 412 is projected to be finished?

Am I mistaken in thinking that this section (between AR 226 to US 412) is currently under construction?

I couldn't find anything, but Google Maps seems to show it u/c to AR 230 east of Alicia with what appears to be an interchange at CR 192.

Bing's view looks to be a little more recent than Google's.  It appears to show some type of work all the way from AR 226 to the Walnut Ridge US 63 interchange.  From AR 226 northward to a creek just north of "Lawrence 706 Rd.", it looks like significant grading work is ongoing, with an interchange at AR 230 and some type of structure work over the creek.  From the creek northward to the Walnut Ridge US 63 interchange, it looks like the early stages of clearing and grubbing work.  It looks like it is open to traffic from US 63 to US 412.

Here is view at Bing around AR 226:
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=35.80566669438677~-91.01529121398926&lvl=14&dir=0&sty=h&where1=Walnut%20Ridge%2C%20AR&form=LMLTCC

Here is view at Bing around Walnut Ridge US 63 interchange:
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=36.02556987580721~-90.96250534057617&lvl=14&dir=0&sty=h&where1=Walnut%20Ridge%2C%20AR&form=LMLTCC

[mgk920]

I can easily see US 67 NE of Little Rock, AR becoming a southwestward extension of I-57 when that entire highway is completed.  Although this is starting to devolve into a 'fantasy' musing, it would bring forth a dilemma with I-30 at Little Rock that is similar to that with I-29 vs. I-49 in Kansas City.

Mike

[US71]

Bing's view looks to be a little more recent than Google's.  It appears to show some type of work all the way from AR 226 to the Walnut Ridge US 63 interchange.  From AR 226 northward to a creek just north of "Lawrence 706 Rd.", it looks like significant grading work is ongoing, with an interchange at AR 230 and some type of structure work over the creek.  From the creek northward to the Walnut Ridge US 63 interchange, it looks like the early stages of clearing and grubbing work.  It looks like it is open to traffic from US 63 to US 412.

The section at Hoxie/Walnut Ridge has been open since around 2003/2004.  There's a "reverse duplex"  for 67/63 as well as Business 67/Business 63

[Gordon]

The ARRA site on Arkansas Highway Department shows a job from Hwy 63 T0 Hwy 230 south of Walnut Ridge of grading and structures.

[Grzrd]

Anyone know when the section under construction from AR 226 to US 412 is projected to be finished?

The ARRA site on Arkansas Highway Department shows a job from Hwy 63 T0 Hwy 230 south of Walnut Ridge of grading and structures.

The ARRA site shows an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2012 for the grading and structures contract (page 8/9 of pdf):
http://www.arkansashighways.com/ARRA/update_100611/ARRA%20List%20AHTD%20WEB2.pdf
The 2010-13 STIP does not show a paving contract for 2013 (page 26/138 of pdf -  http://www.arkansashighways.com/stip/Final%20STIP%202010-2013%20%20Web%20Version.pdf) but maybe with a little bit of luck paving could begin in late 2013 and completion be accomplished by end of 2015.  Probably waaaaay too optimistic ...

[Steve]

I can easily see US 67 NE of Little Rock, AR becoming a southwestward extension of I-57 when that entire highway is completed.  Although this is starting to devolve into a 'fantasy' musing, it would bring forth a dilemma with I-30 at Little Rock that is similar to that with I-29 vs. I-49 in Kansas City.

Mike

I've heard of it being an I-30 extension, so more likely your dilemma would be at the I-55 junction.