US-412 highway upgrades and bypass (a.k.a. AR-612) in NWA: the thread

[TheBox]

]Lots of (interstate) highways Arkansas has plans for

1. There's I-69 between El Dorado, Monticello, and Arkansas City if not the Mississippi River bridge (and a possible I-530 extension to Monticello sometime after or with it).
Louisiana and Mississippi have to do their parts to support it in their states, they just don't have the funding

2. There's I-49 between Texarkana and Fort Smith (they only just finished the Bella Vista bypass last year if not months ago)

3. There's also I-57 between Little Rock Walnut Ridge, and Pocahontas (iirc).
Much like Louisiana and Mississippi with I-69; Missouri would also have to do their part to support I-57 in their state too, also no funding AFAIK.

4. And finally and the most interesting US-412 (and the AR-612 bypass) between NWA and the OK state line.
UPDATE: And eventually future I-42 (adding another proposed interstate to Arkansas).
Where as the aforementioned I-49 is the north-south highway in NWA, US-412 is the east-west highway there, and it leaves a lot to be desired within NWA.
Like there needs to be a bypass around Springdale like they were considering at one point.
Ther also needs to be a expressway at Siloam Springs and west of said Springdale.
And then go on from there assuming the bypass and expressways are finished (if ever).
Potential to connect NWA to Tulsa with interstate standards too, which is one of if not the main selling point

[intelati49]

1. I don't see 69 happening in my lifetime
2. I-49 gap is quite the same. More doable/evident need
3. Arkansas' part will get done. The reasoning is strange to me, but there's money/power there.
4. I agree. The 412 interstate is probably the next "newly approved" interstate in Arkansas. The Siloam bypass has a need (I hate the six lane expressway in the "college" town). The Springdale bypass has ROW bought. I have a feeling the Western part to 49 will be done in the (relatively) near future with the connection to the new interstate,  but oddly there has been movement to construct a section east of 49 (build bridges on 49 for the bypass main lanes).

[The Ghostbuster]

If I were Arkansas, I would concentrate on completing the Interstate 49 and future Interstate 57 corridors. The US 412 Interstate Upgrade should be more of a priority for Oklahoma (given the majority of the route is within that state), and the construction of Interstate 69 within the state of Arkansas will likely happen very gradually (probably at least 50 years if not longer).

[MikieTimT]

US-412 in Arkansas only really has 11 miles between the western end of the Springdale Northern Bypass and where a likely northern Siloam Springs Bypass splits off where it bends to the left to enter Siloam Springs.  And in between there's really only 4-5 exits that a conversion to limited access of the current facility would really warrant along with some short access roads what with a large portion of the southern border of the ROW being Ozark National Forest.  With Tyson, J.B. Hunt, and Walmart all having substantial trucking fleets that use US-412 extensively, it has the commercial priority over most of the other roads in the state being that all are Fortune 500 companies.

I can see the US-412 upgrade being knocked out shortly after I-49 is extended from Alma to Barling across the Arkansas River and I-40 with the stack completed with I-40, which is starting with vegetation grubbing before more concrete dirtwork begins in a couple of years according to the 2023-2026 STIP.  Further south of Ft. Smith from the south end of AR-549 to Y-City will get a Super-2 long before anything else is done from Y-City to Texarkana, with the exception of perhaps Super-2 bypasses of Mena and DeQueen.  That would make trips to Hot Springs from Ft. Smith/NWA much quicker even with 2 lanes of appropriate geometries.  But none of that has funding in the 2023-2026 STIP, so we'll have to wait a couple of years for the next STIP to come out to see if there's any hope of movement on any of that.  That's just how Arkansas does interstate building in this era.  They'll do portions that serve local interests along with ROW acquisition until funds become available to knock out the other carriageway.

I-57 is starting in Arkansas with a Corning Bypass, but that's all that's programmed before 2026 at this point for actual construction.  It could be the first of the interstates actually completed as the terrain isn't particularly challenging, other than building up the roadbed above the floodplain between the Current and Black Rivers to keep it from being flooded out every 10-15 years.

I-69 will only get lip service for the forseeable future with a couple of Super-2 bypasses and connectors.  South Arkansas would rather see US-82 upgrades or actual road maintenance to the highways there that have been pounded mightily by logging trucks.  Hydroplaning during rains is the biggest threat down there as most of the roads won't drain off with the standing water that runs in the "ruts" parallel to the centerline.  Arkansas likes to build highways.  It doesn't like maintaining them nearly as much.

EDIT:
The PEL meeting today in Siloam Springs for the project pretty much quashed any hope of anything with US-412 happening this decade in Arkansas other than the completion of the Springdale Northern Bypass western leg and XNA connector, barring any miraculous earmark manna from heaven.  I-49, I-57, and probably a dozen projects around Little Rock will take most of the funds for the next decade other than passing zones, perhaps a Super-2 Bypass or two of some southern towns along I-49/I-69, and maybe Harrison, God willing.

[TheBox]

So apparently US-412/AR-612 will be I-42 eventually.

Oklahoma started the process to sign US-412 as I-42 last month:

https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/odot/transportation-commision/agenda/2023/tc_agenda-202309-r.pdf

https://www.5newsonline.com/article/traffic/ardot-highway-412-interstate/527-1842ce29-49ec-4044-8082-db3b5097f0a8
https://www.fox23.com/news/busy-tulsa-highway-could-become-oklahomas-newest-interstate/article_661988ba-6e11-11ee-9104-373d5129f7a5.html

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=29375.825
EDIT: also from the thread in Central States

Any northern bypass will go past Gentry, so unless they do new terrain along AR-264/AR-12 with the facility taking a northern turn just past the XNA connector from the looks of it.

A northern bypass could perhaps wrap in as a western access to the XNA airport, with a soon-to-be connector from the east and also the south (AR-612 extension), no?  Maybe the airport authority could pitch western access and include funding.
https://www.eagleobserver.com/news/2022/jul/06/new-access-road-to-northwest-arkansas-national/

[bugo]

So apparently US-412/AR-612 will be I-42 eventually.
Oklahoma started the process to sign US-412 as I-42 last month:

Where have you been? I broke this story to this forum on September 11.

[TheBox]

So apparently US-412/AR-612 will be I-42 eventually.
Oklahoma started the process to sign US-412 as I-42 last month:

Where have you been? I broke this story to this forum on September 11.

just spreading the news on the Mid-South forum

[MikieTimT]

So apparently US-412/AR-612 will be I-42 eventually.
Oklahoma started the process to sign US-412 as I-42 last month:

Where have you been? I broke this story to this forum on September 11.

This commission meeting was the first published notice on Arkansas' side of the border, so it wasn't evident that there was a consensus on the part of both DOTs.  Oh well, time to change the avatar as the dream of I-50 just died.

[Revive 755]

This commission meeting was the first published notice on Arkansas' side of the border, so it wasn't evident that there was a consensus on the part of both DOTs.  Oh well, time to change the avatar as the dream of I-50 just died.

Still a chance for an I-50 with the Kentucky Parkways.

[The Ghostbuster]

Kentucky's Parkways are getting other numbers, so I think the Interstate 50 designation has about as much of a chance at being implemented as an Interstate 60 being designated.

[MikieTimT]

ARDOT reviewing 3 bids for western leg of Springdale Northern Bypass

Next phase beginning next year to complete in 2026.  Part of the eventual US-412 conversion to I-42.

[The Ghostbuster]

So the next phase of constructing the Northern Springdale Bypass is construction of the bypass from the western terminus at US 412 (and possibly the eastern terminus of a Siloam Springs Bypass) eastward to AR 112, and from Interstate 49 eastward to AR 265. Do I have that information correct?

[intelati49]

So the next phase of constructing the Northern Springdale Bypass is construction of the bypass from the western terminus at US 412 (and possibly the eastern terminus of a Siloam Springs Bypass) eastward to AR 112, and from Interstate 49 eastward to AR 265. Do I have that information correct?

Yeah. West from the partial interchange at 112 to JUST west of Tonitown.

[MikieTimT]

They are connecting the western end of the Springdale Northern Bypass to the current US-412 divided portion just west of the Old Highway 68 intersection.  There's nothing concrete whatsoever yet regarding a Siloam Springs Bypass.  I'd expect alternatives for that in the next public meeting in Mar/Apr next year as well as alternatives for the route between the bypasses, but my money is on converting the existing divided highway to limited access.

You can see how it ties into the current US-412 west of Tontitown at https://www.ardot.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/001966_DPH_Exhibit-01.pdf

[TheBox]

More detailed look at the XNA access from the Springdale Bypass

[The Ghostbuster]

Maybe the XNA will be signed as Airport Blvd., like the existing roadway from AR 264 northward into the airport. What was the now-demolished building seen in this May 2009 Street View Image?: https://www.google.com/maps/@36.2573063,-94.2927348,3a,75y,181.73h,93.24t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sIo-sDIxfhHrHl6uHyhmyZw!2e0!5s20090501T000000!7i3328!8i1664?entry=ttu.

[MikieTimT]

Maybe the XNA will be signed as Airport Blvd., like the existing roadway from AR 264 northward into the airport. What was the now-demolished building seen in this May 2009 Street View Image?: https://www.google.com/maps/@36.2573063,-94.2927348,3a,75y,181.73h,93.24t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sIo-sDIxfhHrHl6uHyhmyZw!2e0!5s20090501T000000!7i3328!8i1664?entry=ttu.

It was a western wear store out in the sticks, but has been closed longer than the airport has been there, shockingly.  It's demolition was long overdue.

[MikieTimT]

Arkansas Department of Transportation approves $180.8M bid to extend Springdale Northern Bypass

Wiley said construction on the second phase of Highway 612 should start in spring or early summer. Emery Sapp & Sons expects to complete the 6.9-mile project in 833 days, or about 28 months. Based on that projection, completion would be by 2027 if work starts by summer. The interstate-style, four-lane freeway will include 16 bridges and three interchanges, including one for the connector leading to Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA). The second phase of Highway 612 will have one more bridge and interchange than the first.

[The Ghostbuster]

I would be interested in how the AR 612 (future US 412) Springdale Northern Bypass would connect with a proposed Siloam Springs Bypass, but I understand that it is way too soon to find out the answer to that question.

[MikieTimT]

I would be interested in how the AR 612 (future US 412) Springdale Northern Bypass would connect with a proposed Siloam Springs Bypass, but I understand that it is way too soon to find out the answer to that question.

The next step of the PEL will result in the 3rd public involvement meetings for both Oklahoma and Arkansas, scheduled for the spring, so by the April/May meeting we should have the initial set of alternatives made public.

[bugo]

The current US 412 from Siloam Springs to Tontitown will likely be converted into a freeway. It is a nice expressway that isn't all that old.

[edwaleni]

The current US 412 from Siloam Springs to Tontitown will likely be converted into a freeway. It is a nice expressway that isn't all that old.

The original plan is for the bypass to simply be integrated with the existing 4 lane just east of the Old State Route 68 intersection with ramps for old US-412 (Henri de Tonti Blvd) going east and Old 68 going west.

Now that I-42 is in play, its a decision to remove the grade level intersections on US-412 to Siloam Springs or go new route.

IMHO, I think they will convert US-412 to an full interstate from Old 68 to Gum Springs Road and then look for a new route south of SS to connect with the Oklahoma route. But that's just my opinion.

The current US-412 in SS will be called Business I-42 or something like that through to the OK/AR border depending where OK wants to cross.

As I noted in another thread, I think the new ground route will follow the AEP 200kV ROW south of town, but anything is possible at this point.

[MikieTimT]

The current US 412 from Siloam Springs to Tontitown will likely be converted into a freeway. It is a nice expressway that isn't all that old.

The original plan is for the bypass to simply be integrated with the existing 4 lane just east of the Old State Route 68 intersection with ramps for old US-412 (Henri de Tonti Blvd) going east and Old 68 going west.

Now that I-42 is in play, its a decision to remove the grade level intersections on US-412 to Siloam Springs or go new route.

IMHO, I think they will convert US-412 to an full interstate from Old 68 to Gum Springs Road and then look for a new route south of SS to connect with the Oklahoma route. But that's just my opinion.

The current US-412 in SS will be called Business I-42 or something like that through to the OK/AR border depending where OK wants to cross.

As I noted in another thread, I think the new ground route will follow the AEP 200kV ROW south of town, but anything is possible at this point.

It definitely isn't going to be I-42 due to the withdrawal by ODOT and ARDOT of the submission since there was concern regarding the duplication of I-42 in North Carolina, so it'll be another 2DI of some sort.  I had the confirmation from ARDOT posted in this thread, but someone took the liberty of moving it to the Central forum and broke my cross-posting link, so let's try this from the other direction and see if the moderator will let be this time:

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=29375.msg2891799#msg2891799

[bugo]

It likely won't be BL 46/48/50, it will probably be US 412B. Arkansas hasn't signed a Business Loop since BL 30 along University, Asher, Roosevelt Rd, Broadway (LR), Broadway (NLR). There was also a BL 30 in Benton, but not a lot is known about it.

[The Ghostbuster]

Maybe old 412 through Siloam Springs and Springdale could be signed as Alternate US 412, like the former 412 alignment that was bypassed by the Cherokee Turnpike.