US 71B in Fort Smith is being decommissioned after some improvements are made by the state. The section of Towson Avenue between US 64 and what is now US 271 will become a local street, while US 71B will be dropped from the AR 255 overlap. US 71B between AR 255 and US 71/I-540 will be renumbered AR 255S. Interestingly, US 271 between I-540 and AR 255 will be renumbered AR 271. US 271, section 1 will be replaced with AR 271, section 2. I don't know the reason for the section number change. If US 271 is being truncated, where will its northern end be?
Really it needs to be truncated at Hugo, Oklahoma. North of Hugo the closest road is Indian Nation Turnpike with no highway number. U.S. 271 itself becomes a very low quality road that would be better as a state highway in Oklahoma also.
Does the DOT have any info about this online?
US 271 north of Hugo should absolutely be a US highway. It only parallels the Indian Nation Turnpike for a few miles, and there isn't an alternate to US 271.
Quote from: usends on December 29, 2019, 01:35:36 PM
Does the DOT have any info about this online?
http://www.arkansashighways.com/minute_orders/2019/2019-12.pdf
Quote from: bugo on December 28, 2019, 07:15:42 PM
If US 271 is being truncated, where will its northern end be?
Sounds like the new terminus will be at exit 14, correct? In other words, four different designations will extend in four different directions from that interchange: to the east is I-540, west is US 271, north is AR 271, and south is AR 253.
Since 71B is being dropped along Towson, I wonder if the 71B / US 64 overlap will be eliminated? I'm guessing it will. I've contacted ARDOT to verify. 71B from I-40 to US 64 in Alma was re-signed as AR 162 this past Spring.
Personally, I would have routed US 271 up Interstate 540 to Exit 12 so the highway could once again connect with US 71. Another alternative I would have done would be to have 271 replace Business 71 up to Interstate 540's Exit 1. I dislike it when three-digit US Highways no longer connect with the mainline.
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on December 30, 2019, 02:49:01 PM
Personally, I would have routed US 271 up Interstate 540 to Exit 12 so the highway could once again connect with US 71. Another alternative I would have done would be to have 271 replace Business 71 up to Interstate 540's Exit 1. I dislike it when three-digit US Highways no longer connect with the mainline.
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on December 30, 2019, 02:49:01 PM
Personally, I would have routed US 271 up Interstate 540 to Exit 12 so the highway could once again connect with US 71. Another alternative I would have done would be to have 271 replace Business 71 up to Interstate 540's Exit 1. I dislike it when three-digit US Highways no longer connect with the mainline.
271 along 540 wouldn't make a lot of sense considering ARDOT hates posting duplexed routes.
Has anyone checked this out in the field recently?
GMSV from 2019 shows some signage gone, other signage still there.
Quote from: yakra on April 23, 2021, 02:40:51 PM
Has anyone checked this out in the field recently?
GMSV from 2019 shows some signage gone, other signage still there.
No change yet as of yesterday, but I've not been out today .
US 271 in Oklahoma is co-signed with OK-9 to Spiro. Would've been better to extend AR 271 to the state line, let OK 9 carry forward and truncate US 271 at US 59.
Quote from: Road Hog on May 08, 2021, 05:16:45 PM
US 271 in Oklahoma is co-signed with OK-9 to Spiro. Would've been better to extend AR 271 to the state line, let OK 9 carry forward and truncate US 271 at US 59.
271 will be truncated at
I-540 Exit14. North of 540 in Ft Smith is proposed
AR 271 to US 71B/AR 253 in Fort Smith.
It's only the 3rd or 4th time 271 has been changed in Ft Smith
Quote from: US71 on May 08, 2021, 05:42:12 PM
North of 540 in Ft Smith is proposed AR 271 to US 71B/AR 253 in Fort Smith.
ITYM AR 255.
Though on that note, why not an extension of AR 253, instead of AR 271?
Quote from: yakra on May 09, 2021, 06:48:57 PM
Quote from: US71 on May 08, 2021, 05:42:12 PM
North of 540 in Ft Smith is proposed AR 271 to US 71B/AR 253 in Fort Smith.
ITYM AR 255.
Though on that note, why not an extension of AR 253, instead of AR 271?
The info I read said AR 271. You'd have to ask ARDOT why it's not an extension of 253. My guess is because people call it 271 (there is no street name) so that won't change.
255 won't change: it will still be the truck bypass. Where it overlapped 271 or 71B, it will be 255 only. I think 71B south of Zero will become 255 SPUR
This looks like either ARDOT wanted to shed some mileage in this county or Fort Smith traded it away for in-kind money for the I-49 bridge. Both of these roads are basically city streets (boulevards.)
Quote from: bwana39 on June 03, 2021, 01:13:15 AM
This looks like either ARDOT wanted to shed some mileage in this county or Fort Smith traded it away for in-kind money for the I-49 bridge. Both of these roads are basically city streets (boulevards.)
ARDOT is going to fix drainage issues on Towson (71B) before turning it back to the city. As with Fayetteville and north Bentonville, the city is wanting to make improvements/upgrades that ARDOT would not necessarily approve of . ARDOT is always trying to shed miles (so they can add them elsewhere I'm guessing). I've not heard when this is all supposed to happen.
Quote from: bugo on December 28, 2019, 07:15:42 PM
US 71B in Fort Smith is being decommissioned after some improvements are made by the state. The section of Towson Avenue between US 64 and what is now US 271 will become a local street, while US 71B will be dropped from the AR 255 overlap. US 71B between AR 255 and US 71/I-540 will be renumbered AR 255S. Interestingly, US 271 between I-540 and AR 255 will be renumbered AR 271. US 271, section 1 will be replaced with AR 271, section 2. I don't know the reason for the section number change. If US 271 is being truncated, where will its northern end be?
Why remove US 271 just to number it as SR 271? US 271 could be routed over AR 255 to US 64.
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on June 04, 2021, 03:35:18 PM
Quote from: bugo on December 28, 2019, 07:15:42 PM
US 71B in Fort Smith is being decommissioned after some improvements are made by the state. The section of Towson Avenue between US 64 and what is now US 271 will become a local street, while US 71B will be dropped from the AR 255 overlap. US 71B between AR 255 and US 71/I-540 will be renumbered AR 255S. Interestingly, US 271 between I-540 and AR 255 will be renumbered AR 271. US 271, section 1 will be replaced with AR 271, section 2. I don't know the reason for the section number change. If US 271 is being truncated, where will its northern end be?
Why remove US 271 just to number it as SR 271?
Probably because it won't end at a US Highway (It will end at AR 255).
Has any of this happened yet?
Quote from: usends on November 02, 2022, 11:59:57 PM
Has any of this happened yet?
No .ARDOT is supposed to fix the flooding problems on 71b (Towson Ave) before turning it over, but I have seen no work.
Quote from: US71 on November 03, 2022, 12:18:38 AM
Quote from: usends on November 02, 2022, 11:59:57 PM
Has any of this happened yet?
No .ARDOT is supposed to fix the flooding problems on 71b (Towson Ave) before turning it over, but I have seen no work.
That's too bad. The best time to fix flooding issues is during a drought. Weather delays can't be much of an excuse on any project in Arkansas this summer/fall.
US71B should really revert back to US 71 being AR don't sign Interstate and US Route concurrencies with the I-540 overlap no different.
Quote from: roadman65 on November 03, 2022, 08:13:24 AM
US71B should really revert back to US 71 being AR don't sign Interstate and US Route concurrencies with the I-540 overlap no different.
That doesn't help ARDOT in their laudable quest to offload highway mileage to cities/counties. They've got too much mileage to take care of for a state this size as it is.