I-540, Exit 85 plans

[M86]

I recently emailed AHTD regarding Exit 85 on I-540 in NWA.  It's a very heavily traveled interchange.  The 2006 I-540 study pegged this interchange for a SPUI.

Now AHTD is saying they are "tweaking" things, and the type of interchange is not known.  The let date is late 2015.  Good grief... Outside of a SPUI, the only other option is a Diverging Diamond.  AHTD is so afraid of change...

And the guy I talked to included this:

"It's one of the reasons we try not to put that type of information out too early, because it's bound to change. Even when we announced the Bella Vista Bypass project would be the first half-cent sales tax-funded project to begin, we had to immediately make a change because the State of Missouri told us at the last minute they are not able to meet us at the state line at this time."

I mean, seriously? 

[US71]

I recently emailed AHTD regarding Exit 85 on I-540 in NWA.  It's a very heavily traveled interchange.  The 2006 I-540 study pegged this interchange for a SPUI.

Now AHTD is saying they are "tweaking" things, and the type of interchange is not known.  The let date is late 2015.  Good grief... Outside of a SPUI, the only other option is a Diverging Diamond.  AHTD is so afraid of change...

And the guy I talked to included this:

"It's one of the reasons we try not to put that type of information out too early, because it's bound to change. Even when we announced the Bella Vista Bypass project would be the first half-cent sales tax-funded project to begin, we had to immediately make a change because the State of Missouri told us at the last minute they are not able to meet us at the state line at this time."

I mean, seriously? 

There's not a lot of room at Exit 85 to do much of anything: the surrounding area is way overgrown.

[Tomahawkin]

Does The State of Arkansas have any SPUI's??? I could think of atleast 3 that could be beneficial (if built) on 540 (US 62 exit, US 412 exit and the main Pinnacle Hills exit). Im Not a Fan of DDI's (Diverting Diamond Interchanges). The ones here in Atlanta do little to improve  traffic in my opinion. Out here its like putting a Band-Aid on a Bullet-wound, but I think they might be more effective on 540 because it has a Fraction of Daily Traffic that IH 85 and 285 has....Arkansas we never do it in the next 10 years though, SMFH...

[US71]

Does The State of Arkansas have any SPUI's??? I could think of atleast 3 that could be beneficial (if built) on 540 (US 62 exit, US 412 exit and the main Pinnacle Hills exit). Im Not a Fan of DDI's (Diverting Diamond Interchanges). The ones here in Atlanta do little to improve  traffic in my opinion. Out here its like putting a Band-Aid on a Bullet-wound, but I think they might be more effective on 540 because it has a Fraction of Daily Traffic that IH 85 and 285 has....Arkansas we never do it in the next 10 years though, SMFH...

To the best of my knowledge, no.... and no "Death Diamonds" as Bugo would say. But lately, they seem enamored by traffic circles.

Arkansas is behind the times...always has been, unfortunately. The cheapest way to do it isn't always the best. Look how long it took to build the flyover in Fayetteville (40 years).

[M86]

No SPUIs or DDIs in Arkansas.

DDIs are efficient if there's adequate signage and heavy left turns.  The one in Joplin at Range Line seems to work great... I've driven through it several times since it opened.

I prefer SPUIs, and I don't know why AHTD is so scared of them.

I took more offense to the reply back criticizing MoDOT.