The US 82 bypass of El Dorado, Arkansas now has exit numbers according to the 2013 Arkansas State Highway Map. This would not be noteworthy except for the fact that the first exit shown on the map is exit 18, for AR 15 south. It doesn't show an exit number at US 82 west/82B east, but it would be somewhere around 16 or 17. The only other possible explanation than this being a possible indicator to an extension to I-69 is that the mile markers for Union County are close to the exit numbers.
http://www.arkansashighways.com/planning_research/mapping_graphics/2013%20AR%20State%20Highway%20Map%20-%20City%20Side.pdf
Quote from: Grzrd on May 15, 2012, 01:20:07 PM
LaDOTD also has an I-69 SIU 14 Environmental Documents (http://www.dotd.la.gov/planning/environ/DirListing.aspx?txtPath=/planning/environ/documents/I-69_SIU_14_from_El_Dorado,_Ark_to_Shreveport,_LA) page.
(above quote from I-69 in AR (and Pine Bluff I-69 Connector/AR 530) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=3524.msg149002#msg149002) thread)
Quote from: Grzrd on January 04, 2012, 02:04:22 PM
In the [SIU 14] FEIS, Arkansas projects a twenty-five year implementation schedule from 2015 to 2040, which projects a beginning four years before Louisiana's projected start date of 2019 (pages 5-7 and 5-8 of FEIS; pages 207-208/760 of pdf).
(above quote from I-69 in AR (and Pine Bluff I-69 Connector/AR 530) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=3524.msg128831#msg128831) thread)
Quote from: bugo on June 20, 2013, 03:39:42 PM
The US 82 bypass of El Dorado, Arkansas now has exit numbers according to the 2013 Arkansas State Highway Map. This would not be noteworthy except for the fact that the first exit shown on the map is exit 18, for AR 15 south. It doesn't show an exit number at US 82 west/82B east, but it would be somewhere around 16 or 17. The only other possible explanation than this being a possible indicator to an extension to I-69 is that the mile markers for Union County are close to the exit numbers.
In looking at the SIU 13 Final Environmental Impact Statement (http://www.arkansashighways.com/environmental/environmental_studies/020471/AR%20I-69%20Final%20EIS.pdf), it looks like a "western connector" near US 82 would only gain a lot of value when I-69 is completed from US 82 to I-20 near Bossier City in order to provide good access to Shreveport and the Texas ports (page 73/240 of pdf):
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F4rXur9o.png&hash=bad97119cc3a834f673e5f0aff1fd3c0f4391a43)
Since even an optimistic projection has SIU 14 being completed in a little over 25 years, I don't think the numbering is related to I-69. It also seems like they would need to upgrade US 167 to have an "eastern connector" for Pine Bluff, Memphis, etc.
I think they are strictly related to Union County mileage for US 82 and not related to I-69. I noticed the exit numbers when I drove through there last March.