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[edwaleni]

Does anyone know where the current "official" west end of I-555 is?

It appears to be at Dan Ave (AR-91) west of Jonesboro, but I can't locate the "Begin" and "End" signs. I don't see reassurance signs around Jonesboro either.

I know it just got the designation some 18 months ago.

[Bobby5280]

The official end of I-555 is actually at the Southwest Drive exit in Jonesboro, where it intersects US-49. It doesn't end where the freeway ends a couple or so miles Northwest.

I'd like to see I-555 extended to Walnut Ridge, if not farther NW.

[edwaleni]

The official end of I-555 is actually at the Southwest Drive exit in Jonesboro, where it intersects US-49. It doesn't end where the freeway ends a couple or so miles Northwest.

I'd like to see I-555 extended to Walnut Ridge, if not farther NW.

I would surmise that I-555 will get extended to Walnut Ridge when I-57 makes its jaunt south past Pocahontas.

Any improvements in this area are desired because I treat I-555 as an extension of I-22.

It has cut down the time/miles to reach Springfield MO from the southeast.

[The Ghostbuster]

I don't see Interstate 555 being extended further up the US 63 corridor any time soon. The amount of development just north of the AR 91 exit may prove to be a barrier to extending the freeway (as Interstate 555, or as just US 63) any further northward.

[Bobby5280]

Any extension of I-555 beyond the Dan Ave/AR-91 exit would have to be built on a new terrain alignment. There's too much development along US-63 to make a freeway upgrade feasible. But a new terrain alignment just West of US-63 is do-able. Chances are a couple or so homes would have to be taken, but nothing like bulldozing all the property along one or both sides of US-63. Plus a new alignment could dovetail into the existing bypass around Bono, just beyond all the development at the South end of that bypass.

[yakra]

The official end of I-555 is actually at the Southwest Drive exit in Jonesboro, where it intersects US-49. It doesn't end where the freeway ends a couple or so miles Northwest.

The extension to AR91 was approved by AASHTO in spring 2016:
http://sp.route.transportation.org/Documents/2016%20SM%20Des%20Moines%2c%20IA/USRN%20Meeting%20Minutes%20May25%2c2016.pdf
http://sp.route.transportation.org/Documents/2016%20SM%20Des%20Moines%2c%20IA/Interstate_Routes_Binder.pdf

[froggie]

^ Doesn't mean that FHWA accepted it, especially considering there's no letter of concurrence from FHWA in AHTD's application.  The lack of signage beyond US 49 also suggests that FHWA has not approved it yet.

[yakra]

Interesting... is it common for AASHTO to approve Interstate applications without FHWA acceptance/concurrence?

[froggie]

No, but it's not unheard of.  Usually in such cases, AASHTO gives conditional approval instead of full approval.  Could also be that there are new committee members...haven't looked at that in detail.

It's possible there's some correspondence with FHWA that hasn't been made public yet.  But the lack of signs up to AR 91 is also an indicator.

Again (for this forum), it should be noted that when it comes to Interstate highways, the only thing AASHTO actually approves is the route number.  FHWA has final say on when a given segment is actually added to the Interstate system.

[edwaleni]

I checked the official maps from ArDOT for Craigshead County.

Noted in clear text on the map was "End of I-555" at the intersection with US-49N (Stadium Blvd.)

Google Maps has it ending at AR-91 (Dan Ave.) based on the AASHTO letter.

I am still researching it locally.

I don't want to wonder off into fictional too far, but one response was that I-555 would go west at County-114 and hit the future I-57 via Winesburg.  That it wouldn't go to Walnut Ridge-Hoxie at all, and replace AR-226 as the Jonesboro feeder from the west.  That surprised me somewhat because I assumed they would just extend it up to the NW and over CO-114 (Gainesville Road) and bring it back somewhere near Bono.

Supposedly, this is why I-555 "ends" at US-49, (instead of AR-91) that they don't intend to keep it aligned to US-63 in the future.

It's all speculative for now, but it is interesting that the ArDOT shows it different than everyone else.

[edwaleni]

I checked the official maps from ArDOT for Craigshead County.

Noted in clear text on the map was "End of I-555" at the intersection with US-49N (Stadium Blvd.)

Google Maps has it ending at AR-91 (Dan Ave.) based on the AASHTO letter.

I am still researching it locally.

I don't want to wonder off into fictional too far, but one response was that I-555 would go west at County-114 and hit the future I-57 via Winesburg.  That it wouldn't go to Walnut Ridge-Hoxie at all, and replace AR-226 as the Jonesboro feeder from the west.  That surprised me somewhat because I assumed they would just extend it up to the NW and over CO-114 (Gainesville Road) and bring it back somewhere near Bono.

Supposedly, this is why I-555 "ends" at US-49, (instead of AR-91) that they don't intend to keep it aligned to US-63 in the future.

It's all speculative for now, but it is interesting that the ArDOT shows it different than everyone else.

Correction: "End of I-555" is at Southwest Highway (US-49S).  Sorry about the error.

https://www.arkansashighways.com/maps/Counties/County%20PDFs/CraigheadCounty.pdf

[bugo]

I-555 will probably never extend past AR 91. US 63 from AR 91 to Portia is a 4-5 lane undivided "Arkansas Freeway" that will likely be sufficient for the amount of traffic that road gets for a long time. If that part of the state really explodes it is possible but I don't expect to see it extended in my lifetime.

[froggie]

^ Agreed.  ARDOT has enough on their plate just with their politicians pushing "I-57", I-69, and I-49.  And by the time any of those get around to meaningful construction, they'll need to rebuild I-30 and I-40 (again).

[US71]

I-555 will probably never extend past AR 91. US 63 from AR 91 to Portia is a 4-5 lane undivided "Arkansas Freeway" that will likely be sufficient for the amount of traffic that road gets for a long time. If that part of the state really explodes it is possible but I don't expect to see it extended in my lifetime.

Jonesboro is relatively poor compared to Little Rock or NWA.  I don't forsee extending 555 anytime in the foreseeable future.

As to whether it ends at US 49 or AR 91 would likely require a field trip

[MikieTimT]

[Jonesboro is relatively poor compared to Little Rock or NWA.  I don't forsee extending 555 anytime in the foreseeable future.

As to whether it ends at US 49 or AR 91 would likely require a field trip

I get that way a couple of times a year from NWA and like to take that way across to US-412 to change things up on the return leg.  I'll try to remember to check it out and report back.

[bugo]

END signs are very rare in Arkansas. I have never seen nor heard of a BEGIN sign in the state.

Nexus 5X

[MikieTimT]

I didn't notice any ending signs when I was there a few weeks back.  However, there is a project on ARDOT's website that has an environmental document that states the end of I-555 is US-49.

http://ardot.gov/public_meetings/2019_PM/100657/100657.aspx

From the document:

1.2
What are the existing road conditions?
Regional
I-555, also known as the Joe N. Martin Expressway, is the metropolitan area’s primary through route and the only fully controlled access facility. It is a north-south route that begins at I-55 in northern Crittenden County and ends at Hwy. 49 in Jonesboro. I-555 is a four-lane facility with a 65mile per hour (mph) speed limit serving as the area’s primary connection to  Missouri  and  Tennessee.    In  the  immediate  study  area,  there  are currently interchanges at Hwy. 18S and Nestle Road (Rd.).

[The Ghostbuster]

Just say Interstate 555 ends in Margaritaville, and leave it at that.

[NE2]

Just ban The Ghostbuster.

[froggie]

I didn't notice any ending signs when I was there a few weeks back.  However, there is a project on ARDOT's website that has an environmental document that states the end of I-555 is US-49.

My guess is they're waiting for FHWA concurrence before they move the terminus to AR 91.

[edwaleni]

I didn't notice any ending signs when I was there a few weeks back.  However, there is a project on ARDOT's website that has an environmental document that states the end of I-555 is US-49.

My guess is they're waiting for FHWA concurrence before they move the terminus to AR 91.

This is the farthest west signage for I-555. As good as it gets for now.