AR: Future I-555

[US71]

AHTD has posted the I-555 TIGER grant application and it essentially seeks $41 million to be part of $88.8 million for repairs to I-555 (p. 2/22 of pdf); a map in the application illustrates seven stages of repairs (p. 15/22 of pdf):

Having failed at TIGER, AHTD has decided to try a FASTLANE application. AHTD is asking for $65.2 million of the $108.7 million project cost. The cost per segment is as follows (p. 11/22 of pdf):

It's in dire need, especially near Marked Tree

[I-39]

Has I-555 been signed to AR 91 yet?

[Tomahawkin]

I don't think so. This project has been going on for over 15 years. It would be nice to see a Memphis to KC interstate ( maybe I-22) but Arkansas as usual sat on its arse for a decade plus...It will be 2025 before I 555 is completed to the Missouri state line. SMFH

[US71]

Has I-555 been signed to AR 91 yet?

As of a couple months ago, no.

[NE2]

It will be 2025 before I 555 is completed to the Missouri state line. SMFH

Huh? Since when is this planned?

[US71]

It will be 2025 before I 555 is completed to the Missouri state line. SMFH

Huh? Since when is this planned?

Sounds like hogwash to me. 555 was never planned beyond Jonesboro.

[Tomahawkin]

It was proposed by the lackluster Jonesboro media to go up to the Missouri state line Circa 2000 (from 1999-2001). Its kind of the same ordeal going on with U.S. 67...

[US71]

It was proposed by the lackluster Jonesboro media to go up to the Missouri state line Circa 2000 (from 1999-2001). Its kind of the same ordeal going on with U.S. 67...

Do you have a source? This is news to me.

[Tomahawkin]

It was mostly speculation in the Jonesboro Sun as well as the Arkansas democrat gazette. Most of them in the opinion columns over 15+ years ago

[froggie]

I can believe the speculation, but how AHTD built the Bono bypass (and more recently than the articles Tomahawkin cited) tells me that it was never taken seriously.

[Tomahawkin]

Yeah, a lot of it was in the opinion sections. In the Jonesboro Sun. As usual AHTD did it Bass Ackwards 15+ years ago. A Memphis to K.C. interstate would have added a lot of revenue to an area that is lacking because Craighead county is still a dry county...

[bjrush]

So this interstate was going to make Craighead County go wet? Huh?

[US71]

So this interstate was going to make Craighead County go wet? Huh?

[Henry]

It would be nice to see a Memphis to KC interstate ( maybe I-22)...It will be 2025 before I 555 is completed to the Missouri state line. SMFH

If anything, it should be I-29, and I-555 will never make it beyond Jonesboro.

[Road Hog]

I-22 with a northern connecting bridge providing relief to the current two crossings. But by the time this ever gets funded, we'll be in flying cars.

[mvak36]

From the I-49 in Arkansas thread

President Trump said on the news he wanted infrastructure projects to ready to put people to work within 3 months when they get a bill passed to spend money.

In AHTD's April 26 Presentation to the Arkansas Higway Commission, They appear well aware of the 90 day limit (p. 8/132 of pdf):



That said, they have a 2022 letting date for the Arkansas River bridge (p. 9/132 of pdf):



I suppose that, with the plan supposedly being ten years, they can get away with the 2022 date.  They do have the Bella Vista Bypass being ready to go in late 2017.

If they do build the I-555 access road as shown in the list above, does that mean that all of 555 will be interstate-grade and farm vehicles won't be allowed on it?

[Bobby5280]

The access road would remove any justification for farm vehicles to drive on the I-555 main lanes. Confining things like tractors to the frontage roads would be a good thing. You don't want to be driving 70mph and come up fast behind a tractor doing less than 30mph.

[NE2]

The access road would remove any justification for farm vehicles to drive on the I-555 main lanes.

Don't they use the shoulders?

[Anthony_JK]

The access road would remove any justification for farm vehicles to drive on the I-555 main lanes.

Don't they use the shoulders?

Some farm equipment are too wide for the shoulders. A frontage road alongside the mainline makes perfect sense.

[US71]

From the I-49 in Arkansas thread

President Trump said on the news he wanted infrastructure projects to ready to put people to work within 3 months when they get a bill passed to spend money.

In AHTD's April 26 Presentation to the Arkansas Higway Commission, They appear well aware of the 90 day limit (p. 8/132 of pdf):



That said, they have a 2022 letting date for the Arkansas River bridge (p. 9/132 of pdf):



I suppose that, with the plan supposedly being ten years, they can get away with the 2022 date.  They do have the Bella Vista Bypass being ready to go in late 2017.

If they do build the I-555 access road as shown in the list above, does that mean that all of 555 will be interstate-grade and farm vehicles won't be allowed on it?

Technically,  it's Interstate-grade already. There's just an exception  for farm vehicles.

SM-G930V

[mvak36]

Technically,  it's Interstate-grade already. There's just an exception  for farm vehicles.

SM-G930V

Yes it is. That's my mistake. I worded my question wrong.

[The Ghostbuster]

Will the access road be built anytime soon?

[US71]

Will the access road be built anytime soon?

Let date 2018 IF AHTD gets the money

[chays]

Both Google Maps and Wikipedia (sourced from Interstate-Guide) seem to think that the I-555 designation has reached Highway 91.  Has anyone in the area done any field checking since December?

[Bobby5280]

Google Earth still doesn't have the I-555 designation applied at all. Looking at Street View imagery dated June 2016 the I-555 designation ends at the US-49 exit in Jonesboro.

While it does seem to make more visual sense to run the I-555 designation up to where the freeway ends (at AR-91) I guess it technically must end at an intersection with another Interstate or US Highway.