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[edwaleni]

I would have completed the Monticello bypass before building the extension to McGahee. By the way, when the extension to McGahee is constructed, will it also be signed as Bypass US 278, or might they bring back the AR 569 designation?

https://ardot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=a716eb676065457cae0cf67b99c257fe

It will be called US-278 until a bridge over the Mississippi River is built.

When ARDOT engaged local leadership and business leaders, they said updating the road east to McGahee had more economic impact than extending the bypass farther west and connecting it to a future AR-530.

Most of the hearing material has been taken down by ARDOT on the project site, but a video recap of the project can be found here:

[Road Hog]

McGehee* (pronounced McGee).

[abqtraveler]

So the latest from ArDOT on the Monticello-McGehee section of I-69:  the Next 3 Letting page is back on ArDOT's website, and it now appears that they will be breaking up the Monticello-McGehee section into two contracts.  The first construction contract will construct the first two lanes of Future I-69 from the east end of the Monticello Bypass at US-278 to AR-293.  That contract is currently scheduled to be let on August 10th.  Let's see if they hold to that schedule.

https://www.ardot.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-May-Letting-to-Post.pdf

[abqtraveler]

The next section of Future I-69 in Arkansas has been advertised for bid, with the letting date schedule for August 10th. This section starts at the east end of the Monticello Bypass at US-278 and ends at AR-293.  This contract will construct the first two lanes of I-69 between US-278 and AR-293, for a total length of 8.252 miles. Interestingly, this section, once completed, will carry the "temporary" designation of AR-569, as indicated in the title of the construction plans for this segment. But don't hold your breath on the road getting its "permanent" designation of I-69 anytime soon.

https://www.ardot.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/020678_plans.pdf

[MikieTimT]

ARDOT just released the draft 2023-2026 STIP.  The next segment to be funded is the AR-293 to US-65 portion across Bayou Bartholomew in 2026 for $54.4M if the STIP isn't modified when finalized.

https://www.ardot.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2023-2026_STIP_Draft_General_Electronic.pdf Pg. 5 (Slide 36)

[The Ghostbuster]

Is there a date planned yet to complete the AR 530 “missing link” between AR 11 and AR 35? I would think it should have been constructed by now.

[Road Hog]

Is there a date planned yet to complete the AR 530 “missing link” between AR 11 and AR 35? I would think it should have been constructed by now.

Without a date definite, I think ARDOT is wise to hold off on this final section. They decided to split the baby by dissecting Warren and Monticello, so they robbed themselves of any impetus to finish a major connector to Central Arkansas.

[MikieTimT]

Is there a date planned yet to complete the AR 530 “missing link” between AR 11 and AR 35? I would think it should have been constructed by now.

Without a date definite, I think ARDOT is wise to hold off on this final section. They decided to split the baby by dissecting Warren and Monticello, so they robbed themselves of any impetus to finish a major connector to Central Arkansas.

Upon consulting land records in Lincoln County and Drew County, other than around AR-11 and Kiowa Rd., ARDOT doesn't own any of the ROW in the gap.  Thankfully it's pretty much all timber production and isn't likely to be built up in the next couple of decades, so I'm sure ARDOT isn't in a rush to purchase the land either.  I would expect nothing to change in the foreseeable future, and there's nothing in the STIP for Project Development for AR/I-530 in the next 2 years for Drew or Lincoln Counties.  Project Development line items are for ROW acquisition for ARDOT, which is obviously required before any construction would commence.  Until then, it's all timber and poultry production for the foreseeable future for the current landowners.  Unless the area grows organically without the built-out I-69 infrastructure, it's likely that the urgency for this project is quite low for everyone involved.

[edwaleni]

Is there a date planned yet to complete the AR 530 “missing link” between AR 11 and AR 35? I would think it should have been constructed by now.

Without a date definite, I think ARDOT is wise to hold off on this final section. They decided to split the baby by dissecting Warren and Monticello, so they robbed themselves of any impetus to finish a major connector to Central Arkansas.

Upon consulting land records in Lincoln County and Drew County, other than around AR-11 and Kiowa Rd., ARDOT doesn't own any of the ROW in the gap.  Thankfully it's pretty much all timber production and isn't likely to be built up in the next couple of decades, so I'm sure ARDOT isn't in a rush to purchase the land either.  I would expect nothing to change in the foreseeable future, and there's nothing in the STIP for Project Development for AR/I-530 in the next 2 years for Drew or Lincoln Counties.  Project Development line items are for ROW acquisition for ARDOT, which is obviously required before any construction would commence.  Until then, it's all timber and poultry production for the foreseeable future for the current landowners.  Unless the area grows organically without the built-out I-69 infrastructure, it's likely that the urgency for this project is quite low for everyone involved.

I just looked at the parcel maps myself and it does show ArDOT owning a few strips here and there in Drew and Lincoln Counties. But it is clear to the land owners where ArDOT plans to take AR-530 through as they are not touching the land and leaving it as is in many places leaving a clear delineation on the aerials where the routing will go. Some states, once they record the centerline of a future ROW, will leave the land "as is" so that the farmer can still work the land until the local DOT advises them when construction will begin.

I watched Tennessee leave the I-69 ROW to the farmers to use as they saw fit until the road was funded. Then the farmers left the ROW fallow when notified that construction was about to begin and they didn't plant on it.