US-412 / I-42 freeway projects in Arkansas: The thread

[Interstate 69 Fan]

Is anyone here still on Wikipedia? I moved the other I-42 to "Interstate 42 (North Carolina)", but seeing that the I-42 in Arkansas is signed, there needs to be an article for "Interstate 42 (Oklahoma–Arkansas)".

I went ahead and moved AR 612's page over, since AR 612 is gone.

Side note - I-42 is entirely signed on the entire corridor, based on a YT video - even on I-49, US 412, and intersecting highways.

[moabdave]

Is anyone here still on Wikipedia? I moved the other I-42 to "Interstate 42 (North Carolina)", but seeing that the I-42 in Arkansas is signed, there needs to be an article for "Interstate 42 (Oklahoma–Arkansas)".

In this forum you're more likely to find people who edit on the AARoads wiki (i.e. our own wiki) at https://wiki.aaroads.com/ A good number of us left Wikipedia because the toxic culture that has developed there in recent years. I still edit Wikipedia but have moved all of my roads editing to our wiki.

[hurricanehink]

Is anyone here still on Wikipedia? I moved the other I-42 to "Interstate 42 (North Carolina)", but seeing that the I-42 in Arkansas is signed, there needs to be an article for "Interstate 42 (Oklahoma–Arkansas)".

In this forum you're more likely to find people who edit on the AARoads wiki (i.e. our own wiki) at https://wiki.aaroads.com/ A good number of us left Wikipedia because the toxic culture that has developed there in recent years. I still edit Wikipedia but have all of my roads editing to our wiki.

Here's hoping that, much like I-42 in Arkansas will merge with roads in Oklahoma, that these efforts will be merged one day Also thank you I-69 Fan.

[Interstate 69 Fan]

Is anyone here still on Wikipedia? I moved the other I-42 to "Interstate 42 (North Carolina)", but seeing that the I-42 in Arkansas is signed, there needs to be an article for "Interstate 42 (Oklahoma–Arkansas)".

In this forum you're more likely to find people who edit on the AARoads wiki (i.e. our own wiki) at https://wiki.aaroads.com/ A good number of us left Wikipedia because the toxic culture that has developed there in recent years. I still edit Wikipedia but have all of my roads editing to our wiki.

Here's hoping that, much like I-42 in Arkansas will merge with roads in Oklahoma, that these efforts will be merged one day Also thank you I-69 Fan.

My pleasure! AR 642 is also up. It's a start on it, there's probably still some more that needs moved over, but it's nice to see this highway open.

Has anyone here driven on the road yet?

[moabdave]

Here's hoping that, much like I-42 in Arkansas will merge with roads in Oklahoma, that these efforts will be merged one day

I think we all want that. Speaking for myself, I hate this split work and re-inventing the wheel. However, while everybody agrees there's a problem, the solutions so far have been comically bad.

[MikieTimT]

Is anyone here still on Wikipedia? I moved the other I-42 to "Interstate 42 (North Carolina)", but seeing that the I-42 in Arkansas is signed, there needs to be an article for "Interstate 42 (Oklahoma–Arkansas)".

In this forum you're more likely to find people who edit on the AARoads wiki (i.e. our own wiki) at https://wiki.aaroads.com/ A good number of us left Wikipedia because the toxic culture that has developed there in recent years. I still edit Wikipedia but have all of my roads editing to our wiki.

Here's hoping that, much like I-42 in Arkansas will merge with roads in Oklahoma, that these efforts will be merged one day Also thank you I-69 Fan.

My pleasure! AR 642 is also up. It's a start on it, there's probably still some more that needs moved over, but it's nice to see this highway open.

Has anyone here driven on the road yet?

Just uploaded my dashcam timelapses for I-42 in each direction and AR-642 in each direction.

Eastern terminus of I-42 to US-412 at the western end of Tontitown:

West end of Tontitown back to I-49, northbound:

XNA Connector (AR-642) from I-42 westbound to XNA entrance:

XNA Connector (AR-642) from XNA exit to I-42 westbound:

[TheBox]

Wait, is the Springdale bypass open already?

I thought that was just Google Maps putting it early in advance

[ozarkman417]

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for these projects was held today and drew a nice turnout despite the heat.



Evidently, as shown by @MikieTimT, the highway opened for business shortly after.

[MaxConcrete]

Photo from Instagram

[I-57/Route 66 Fan]

The bypass around Siloam Springs will probably be the last portion of the Western I-42 to be built. By the time they get around to farting with the project there will probably be so much housing built both North and South of the US-412 corridor that they'll have no choice but to bulldoze their way straight thru on the existing alignment.

Basically, it's less controversial to displace a bunch of commercial businesses along an existing highway than it is to plow through a residential neighborhood. Large scale displacements of commercial properties have happened a lot of times in the past. Look how much had to be cleared alongside I-10 for the massive Katy Freeway expansion in Houston.

Complicating matters worse: the terrain North and South of Siloam Springs is not quite mountainous, but there is a lot of hills. A new terrain bypass that swings well around town will have to deal with lots of challenging grading work. A tunnel or two might not be out of the question either. The cost of that is another factor that makes upgrading US-412 along the existing alignment ever more likely.

I never even knew of this Interstate until today, I heard no construction rumors or anything. Oh well I guess it's another Interstate I don't recognize.

[PColumbus73]

Signing I-42(W) this early flew under the radar for me. I assumed any interstate designation would take place after US 412 was upgraded across Oklahoma.

[TheBox]

Signing I-42(W) this early flew under the radar for me. I assumed any interstate designation would take place after US 412 was upgraded across Oklahoma.

I guess I'll consider renaming this thread to Interstate 42 in Arkansas then

[Bobby5280]

I assumed any interstate designation would take place after US 412 was upgraded across Oklahoma.

We have multiple disconnected segments and stubs of I-69 related routes across multiple states. North Carolina has disconnected segments of I-74 (and it may never get connected to the original I-74 route farther West). At least a couple or so more examples exist in the current Interstate system. With that in mind, I see no problem with officials in Arkansas moving to sign I-42 on the completed section of the Springdale Bypass.

Actually, I'm wondering what the hold-up is with Oklahoma on not yet signing the Cimarron Turnpike as I-42. As far as I can tell, all the work needed to bring it fully up to current Interstate standards has been finished. ODOT could probably get away with signing I-42 on US-412 running thru Tulsa since it connects to other Interstate routes.

[The Ghostbuster]

Google Maps and Apple Maps now show Interstate 42 designated along old AR 612: https://www.google.com/maps/@36.2062078,-94.2217244,9198m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDkxMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D; https://maps.apple.com/frame?center=36.213835%2C-94.244968&span=0.079782%2C0.169710&map=hybrid.

[Bobby5280]

Google Earth also has the West half of the Springdale Bypass signed as I-42 now.

[sturmde]

I'm still scratching my head as to why I-46 (or higher) wasn't an option here.  The part west of Tulsa will be north of 44, and there's not already an I-46 on the East Coast.... 

[The Ghostbuster]

I would've chosen the Interstate 46 designation as well, if it were up to me. However, the Interstate 42 designation was chosen. It's ironic that two Interstate 42s were designated within a short period of time.

[Plutonic Panda]

I would've chosen the Interstate 46 designation as well, if it were up to me. However, the Interstate 42 designation was chosen. It's ironic that two Interstate 42s were designated within a short period of time.

Oklahoma really wanted the position itself, along with Arkansas. They would've chosen interstate 50. A longer-term strategy would be to extend I-17 north to Moab. and then eventually all the way through up to interstate 90. At least you get the ball rolling as if you intend to build the fucking thing.

[Bobby5280]

I don't understand the relation of I-17 to I-42. Even if Moab was actually a big city rather than a remote town it would be really difficult to extend I-17 up through there. There would be a ton of political and environmental hurdles to overcome.

I'm glad "I-50" wasn't chosen for what is becoming a western I-42. A vanity designation like I-50 should be used on a route that is much longer in distance and/or connects to a giant-sized metro area and highway hub. The western I-42 won't do either thing when completed between I-35 and I-49.

Even if/when the Eastern half of the Springdale Bypass is completed I doubt I-42 will be extended any farther East of I-49.

If ODOT and the OK State Legislature lobbied hard enough they might be able to make a case for extending I-42 West to Enid. 60,000 people live in that area and it's also home to Vance Air Force Base. Enid is a significant junction point in the freight rail network. That rail service combined with an Interstate connection would make Enid look more attractive for businesses wanting to build logistics centers.

[PColumbus73]

I wonder if the concrete median with the cable barrier might be an issue for converting the Cimmaron Turnpike to I-42? Will the changeover in Oklahoma get delayed until that's replaced with a Jersey barrier?

[The Ghostbuster]

Also, what upgrades would be needed to bring the Cimarron Turnpike up to Interstate Standards?

[okroads]

Also, what upgrades would be needed to bring the Cimarron Turnpike up to Interstate Standards?

Not on the Cimarron Turnpike but on the expressway between its eastern end and Sand Springs, there is this intersection which needs to be reconfigured: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sHmgw1HF6HcCFpkZ7

[Plutonic Panda]

I don't understand the relation of I-17 to I-42. Even if Moab was actually a big city rather than a remote town it would be really difficult to extend I-17 up through there. There would be a ton of political and environmental hurdles to overcome.

I'm glad "I-50" wasn't chosen for what is becoming a western I-42. A vanity designation like I-50 should be used on a route that is much longer in distance and/or connects to a giant-sized metro area and highway hub. The western I-42 won't do either thing when completed between I-35 and I-49.

Even if/when the Eastern half of the Springdale Bypass is completed I doubt I-42 will be extended any farther East of I-49.

If ODOT and the OK State Legislature lobbied hard enough they might be able to make a case for extending I-42 West to Enid. 60,000 people live in that area and it's also home to Vance Air Force Base. Enid is a significant junction point in the freight rail network. That rail service combined with an Interstate connection would make Enid look more attractive for businesses wanting to build logistics centers.

What I'm saying is interstate 50 would be part of a larger bigger corridor simulator interstate 40 or interstate 70. Even if a lot of it doesn't get built, it still would've been nice to see the intention of having it.

[The Ghostbuster]

Interstates 50 and 60, of course, weren't designated due to their potential proximity to US 50 and US 60. Maybe the now-canceled Interstate 66 extension could have been numbered Interstate 50 or Interstate 60.

[splashflash]

Interstates 50 and 60, of course, weren't designated due to their potential proximity to US 50 and US 60. Maybe the now-canceled Interstate 66 extension could have been numbered Interstate 50 or Interstate 60.

I had hoped I-42 west would have been I-50, with possible future extensions, even the current batch of politicians don't have any such dreams.

If Kansas were to push for the revival of the former I-66 extension, I-60 could be used, maybe starting from Springfield, west to Witchita, and further west to Garden City.