Hot Springs Bypass

[US71]

https://www.hsvvoice.com/story/news/2021/03/29/expressway-extension-remains-target/7046564002/

Updates yo the Hot Springs Bypass extension

[The Ghostbuster]

Is this the long-proposed extension that would run from the existing US 70/Business 70 interchange, to terminate at the existing intersection of AR 7 and AR 5? If so, I expect the new roadway would become a relocation of AR 7. If that happens, would existing AR 7 become Business 7, or could it become an extension of AR 5?

[US71]

Is this the long-proposed extension that would run from the existing US 70/Business 70 interchange, to terminate at the existing intersection of AR 7 and AR 5? If so, I expect the new roadway would become a relocation of AR 7. If that happens, would existing AR 7 become Business 7, or could it become an extension of AR 5?

Extension= YES

Relocation of AR 7= unknown, but I'd put money on it.

[capt.ron]

According to idrivearkansas, the new bypass extension will be signed as AR 7 and will connect up to existing AR 7 and 5. It's slated to be complete by mid 2022.

[KamKam]

I believe the extension will be named AR 7

[The Ghostbuster]

I remember seeing this proposed extension in my road atlases years ago, and then they disappeared. I had assumed that meant the extension had been canceled, but I am pleased to hear that was not the case.

[74/171FAN]

TBKS1 (roadwaywiz Discord username) has reported that the Hot Springs Bypass opened today.

[KamKam]

YAY!! That's Exciting! But I wonder if like AR 530 between I-530 And AR 11, the speed limit on the bypass would also be 65 Mph? Or 55 due to it traveling around the mtns?

[rte66man]

TBKS1 (roadwaywiz Discord username) has reported that the Hot Springs Bypass opened today.

https://www.hotsr.com/news/2023/sep/18/ardot-to-open-expressway-extension-today/

UPDATED: ArDOT opens long-delayed expressway extension
by From Staff Reports | September 18, 2023 at 12:51 p.m.

The Arkansas Department of Transportation opened the 5.8-mile extension of the King Expressway at around 5 p.m. Monday.

The southbound leg of the expressway extension opened shortly before 5 p.m. The northbound lane opened minutes later, shortly after 5 p.m., according to a video feed posted on iDrive Arkansas and area emergency agencies.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

The Arkansas Department of Transportation plans to open the 5.8-mile extension of the King Expressway between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. today, according to Facebook posts made by County Judge Darryl Mahoney and state Rep. Bruce Cozart.

ArDOT has said the more than $85 million extension will cut travel time in half from Hot Springs to Hot Springs Village.

ArDOT previously said the two-lane route connecting the Highway 70 east interchange to the junction of highways 5 and 7 would open in October, which would have put completion 14 months behind the August 2022 date ArDOT projected when McGeorge Contracting began threading the route through the rugged backcountry east of Hot Springs in late 2019.

ArDOT projected a May 2023 opening last spring after revealing its bridge division sent incorrect information to the manufacturer of mechanically stabilized earth retaining walls for the bridge over Mill Creek Road. The mistake wasn't discovered until the walls had been built and proved too short and steep for a proper slope.

"Due to the small angle of the MSE walls, a safe slope along the edge of the roadway was not obtained," according to the $1.17 million change order the state Highway Commission authorized. "Therefore, it was determined that additional MSE walls must be constructed in order to flatten the slopes at the bridge ends."

Issues with bridges over Covenant Trail and Quarry Mountain Road revealed this spring pushed the May opening into the fall. ArDOT said base material under the bridge ends failed to properly compact, causing them to settle and the bridge decks to slide on their bearing plates. The movement closed the bridges' expansion joints.

Drilling compaction grout under the ends, $389,298, was the costliest of the more than a dozen items in the $1.07 million change order ArDOT requested.

[The Ghostbuster]

Google Maps has not yet been updated to show the completed Hot Springs Bypass extension. If anyone drives on the new roadway in the future, do send us some pictures.

[bwana39]

https://fb.watch/nhr5MbzHch/
https://fb.watch/nhrafaWJTW/

https://www.facebook.com/myARDOT/posts/292760406842415?ref=embed_post

Videos of the new HS bypass

[The Ghostbuster]

Does the Mill Creek Rd. interchange have an exit number? If not, it should get one based on a continuation of the US 70/270 freeway's exit numbers.

[Road Hog]

I believe the extension will be named AR 7

Logically it should have been. But nope, they numbered it Highway 5. Guess they didn't want to alter a bunch of addresses on the existing Highway 7.

[Concrete Bob]

Google Maps now shows the new bypass.  It is numbered as SR 5.

[bwana39]

I believe the extension will be named AR 7

Logically it should have been. But nope, they numbered it Highway 5. Guess they didn't want to alter a bunch of addresses on the existing Highway 7.

It is not the ones with a stated AR-7 addresses that are the issue. It is "Scenic-7" and Bathouse Row and the Casino are on it.  AR-7 remained on Park  Street because of the park.

[Great Lakes Roads]

Does the Mill Creek Rd. interchange have an exit number? If not, it should get one based on a continuation of the US 70/270 freeway's exit numbers.

It does not have an exit number at the Mill Creek Road interchange...

YAY!! That's Exciting! But I wonder if like AR 530 between I-530 And AR 11, the speed limit on the bypass would also be 65 Mph? Or 55 due to it traveling around the mtns?

The speed limit is posted at 55 mph.

[KamKam]

Yep it is 55 Mph with 1 Exit (Mill Creek Road) With no intersections between U.S. 70 and AR 7 (The Roundabout) Sights are amazing

[KamKam]

Someone on YouTube posted videos of traveling on the Hot Springs Bypass if anyone is interested
AR 5 South from Fountain Lake to U.S. 70 link is below
https://youtu.be/dlxONwtb2_g?si=i4o48woaVlzFBkfz
Ar 5 North from Hot Springs to Fountain Lake link is below
https://youtu.be/bKQWXsmV5y4?si=hV-N8nkxzgXHpvXa

[The Ghostbuster]

Great videos! This is better than any photographs would be. I still think the Mill Creek Rd. interchange should have been numbered.

[capt.ron]

Nice that the new alignment of AR 5 is a super 2! But ARDOT should have set the speed limit to at least 60.

[The Ghostbuster]

The new AR 5 Hot Springs Bypass now appears on Google Maps Street View. It was traversed in December 2023.

[MikieTimT]

The new AR 5 Hot Springs Bypass now appears on Google Maps Street View. It was traversed in December 2023.

They did the overpasses up right for the future expansion to 4 lanes.  They sure didn't bite the bullet on the dirtwork/cuts for the other lanes, though.