Interstate 69 in Arkansas
Encyclopedia
The proposed Interstate 69
will pass through the southeastern part of the U.S. state
of Arkansas
.
south of Arkansas City
, then continue west to U.S. 65
near McGehee
; U.S. 278
will also be rerouted there from its present crossing with U.S. 82
at the Greenville Bridge
. This is the western portion of SIU 12; the remaining portion consists of the east end of the Dean Bridge, near Greenvile, Mississippi. Environmental studies for this segment, including the Dean Bridge have been completed and the FHWA issued a Record of Decision approving the route through SIU 12 in 2004.
On October 15, 2006, the FHWA directed the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department
(AHTD) to begin land acquisition for I-69 from U.S. 65 to the west bank of the Mississippi River where the Dean Bridge will be built. The first phase of this section was funded for fiscal year 2010 in AHTD's 2010-2013 Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP).
, where it will meet the Interstate 530
extension, then bypass Wilmar
and Warren
to the south, and turn to the southwest, crossing the Ouachita River
and running North of El Dorado
near Louann
to meet U.S. Route 82
west of El Dorado between Magnolia and El Dorado.
The Final Environmental Impact Statement on SIU 13 was completed in April 2006, and the Federal Highway Administration issued a Record of Decision approving the FEIS on May 25, 2006. This 103 miles (166 km) segment is currently in the final design phase, with construction expected to cost $784 million. Arkansas further divides SIU 13 into several smaller segments. Construction on the first leg of SIU-13, the 8.5-mile Monticello Bypass, began in November 2011.
. Arkansas and Louisiana officials continue to work on the draft EIS for this portion of the route, with some changes being made with public inputs.
from its current terminus in Pine Bluff to a planned interchange with I-69 south of Monticello. This segment has been divided into several smaller sections, with work proceeding at various rates on each. In June 2006 a 4 miles (6.4 km) section of the I-530 extension opened to traffic between Highway 35
and US 278 near Wilmar
. The remaining portions of SIU 28 are in various stages of land acquisition and construction. Objections from the community of Pinebergen has forced planners to re-consider the routing of the northernmost segment of the I-530 extension, delaying its construction. Public meetings were conducted in late 2006 and early 2007, and the alignment of the north end of the I-530 extension was shifted slightly. Construction on the interchange where the I-530 extension will tie into the existing I-530 near Ohio Street on the south side of Pine Bluff began on October 29, 2007. On March 8, 2008 the Arkansas Highway Department awarded an $11.8 million contract to T.J. Lambrecht Construction, Inc. of Joliet, Illinois
, to construct 10 miles (16 km) of the I-530 extension through Jefferson, Lincoln, and Cleveland Counties.
Interstate 69
Interstate 69 is an Interstate Highway in the United States. It exists in two parts: a completed highway from Indianapolis, Indiana, northeast to the Canadian border in Port Huron, Michigan, and a mostly proposed extension southwest to the Mexican border in Texas...
will pass through the southeastern part of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
.
SIU 12 (Arkansas portion)
I-69 will enter Arkansas on the Charles W. Dean BridgeCharles W. Dean Bridge
The Charles W. Dean Bridge, known before 1999 as the Great River Bridge, will be a cable-stayed bridge carrying Interstate 69 and US 278 across the Mississippi River between Arkansas City, Arkansas and Benoit, Mississippi...
south of Arkansas City
Arkansas City, Arkansas
Arkansas City is a town in Desha County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 366 at the 2010 census. The town is the county seat of Desha County.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
, then continue west to U.S. 65
U.S. Route 65
U.S. Route 65 is a north–south United States highway in the southern and midwestern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 425 in Clayton, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at Interstate 35 just south of Interstate 90 in Albert Lea, Minnesota...
near McGehee
McGehee, Arkansas
McGehee is a city in Desha County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 4,219 at the 2010 census.-History:The history of the city of McGehee and the history of the railroad through McGehee are intricately interwoven...
; U.S. 278
U.S. Route 278
U.S. Route 278 is a parallel route of U.S. Route 78. It currently runs for 1,074 miles from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina to Wickes, Arkansas at U.S. Highway 71/U.S. Highway 59. It might be notable that it is longer than its parent highway, US Hwy-78. US Hwy-278 passes through the states of...
will also be rerouted there from its present crossing with U.S. 82
U.S. Route 82
U.S. Route 82 is an east–west United States highway in the southern United States. What started as a 1932 addition to the system across central Mississippi and southern Arkansas eventually became a 1,609 mile route extending from the White Sands of New Mexico to Georgia's Atlantic coast.The...
at the Greenville Bridge
Greenville Bridge
The Greenville Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge crossing the Mississippi River that carries US 82 between Lake Village, Arkansas and Greenville, Mississippi. The main span's length makes the bridge the third-longest cable-stayed bridge in the United States, and fourth longest in North America...
. This is the western portion of SIU 12; the remaining portion consists of the east end of the Dean Bridge, near Greenvile, Mississippi. Environmental studies for this segment, including the Dean Bridge have been completed and the FHWA issued a Record of Decision approving the route through SIU 12 in 2004.
On October 15, 2006, the FHWA directed the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department
Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department
The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department is a government department in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Its mission is to provide a safe, efficient, aesthetically pleasing and environmentally sound intermodal transportation system for the user...
(AHTD) to begin land acquisition for I-69 from U.S. 65 to the west bank of the Mississippi River where the Dean Bridge will be built. The first phase of this section was funded for fiscal year 2010 in AHTD's 2010-2013 Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP).
SIU 13
U.S. 278 will leave I-69 near McGehee and rejoin its existing routing. I-69 will continue on a separate alignment to MonticelloMonticello, Arkansas
Monticello is a city in Drew County, Arkansas, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 9,327. The city is the county seat of Drew County. It is the home of the University of Arkansas at Monticello.-History:...
, where it will meet the Interstate 530
Interstate 530
Interstate 530 in Arkansas is a spur route of the Interstate highway system, traveling from Little Rock at the junction of Interstate 30 and Interstate 440 in the northwest, to Pine Bluff in the southeast.-Route description:...
extension, then bypass Wilmar
Wilmar, Arkansas
Wilmar is a city in Drew County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 571 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wilmar is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
and Warren
Warren, Arkansas
Warren is a city in and the county seat of Bradley County, Arkansas, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimated population in 2006 was 6,219....
to the south, and turn to the southwest, crossing the Ouachita River
Ouachita River
The Ouachita River is a river that runs south and east through the U.S. states of Arkansas and Louisiana, joining the Tensas River to form the Black River near Jonesville, Louisiana.-Course:...
and running North of El Dorado
El Dorado, Arkansas
El Dorado , a multi-cultural arts center: South Arkansas Arts Center , an award-winning renovated downtown, and numerous sporting, shopping, and dining opportunities. El Dorado is the population, cultural, and business center of the 7,300 mi² regional area...
near Louann
Louann, Arkansas
Louann is a town in Ouachita County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 195 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Camden Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Louann is located at ....
to meet U.S. Route 82
U.S. Route 82
U.S. Route 82 is an east–west United States highway in the southern United States. What started as a 1932 addition to the system across central Mississippi and southern Arkansas eventually became a 1,609 mile route extending from the White Sands of New Mexico to Georgia's Atlantic coast.The...
west of El Dorado between Magnolia and El Dorado.
The Final Environmental Impact Statement on SIU 13 was completed in April 2006, and the Federal Highway Administration issued a Record of Decision approving the FEIS on May 25, 2006. This 103 miles (166 km) segment is currently in the final design phase, with construction expected to cost $784 million. Arkansas further divides SIU 13 into several smaller segments. Construction on the first leg of SIU-13, the 8.5-mile Monticello Bypass, began in November 2011.
SIU 14
From U.S. 82, I-69 will continue to the southwest, crossing the Louisiana state line near Haynesville, LouisianaHaynesville, Louisiana
Haynesville is a town in northern Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, United States, located just south of the Arkansas border. The population was 2,679 at the 2000 census....
. Arkansas and Louisiana officials continue to work on the draft EIS for this portion of the route, with some changes being made with public inputs.
SIU 28
Segment 28 will extend Interstate 530Interstate 530
Interstate 530 in Arkansas is a spur route of the Interstate highway system, traveling from Little Rock at the junction of Interstate 30 and Interstate 440 in the northwest, to Pine Bluff in the southeast.-Route description:...
from its current terminus in Pine Bluff to a planned interchange with I-69 south of Monticello. This segment has been divided into several smaller sections, with work proceeding at various rates on each. In June 2006 a 4 miles (6.4 km) section of the I-530 extension opened to traffic between Highway 35
Arkansas Highway 35
Arkansas Highway 35 is a northwest–southeast state highway in southeast Arkansas. The route runs from Dewey near the Mississippi River northwest to Arkansas Highway 5 in Benton.-Route description:...
and US 278 near Wilmar
Wilmar, Arkansas
Wilmar is a city in Drew County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 571 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wilmar is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
. The remaining portions of SIU 28 are in various stages of land acquisition and construction. Objections from the community of Pinebergen has forced planners to re-consider the routing of the northernmost segment of the I-530 extension, delaying its construction. Public meetings were conducted in late 2006 and early 2007, and the alignment of the north end of the I-530 extension was shifted slightly. Construction on the interchange where the I-530 extension will tie into the existing I-530 near Ohio Street on the south side of Pine Bluff began on October 29, 2007. On March 8, 2008 the Arkansas Highway Department awarded an $11.8 million contract to T.J. Lambrecht Construction, Inc. of Joliet, Illinois
Joliet, Illinois
Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city was the fourth-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 147,433. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing...
, to construct 10 miles (16 km) of the I-530 extension through Jefferson, Lincoln, and Cleveland Counties.