Efforts to upgrade U.S. 67 to an Interstate received an enormous boost Thursday as a result of a special provision that Senator John Boozman included in the annual Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies funding bill, which was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Senator Boozman successfully inserted language that designates U.S. 67 as “Future Interstate 57†from I-40 in North Little Rock to U.S 412 in Walnut Ridge/Hoxie. Once enacted into law, this designation by Congress will set the stage for eventual full Interstate status. Please be sure to thank Senator Boozman for his outstanding effort to make this a reality.
Please find below a few key facts about U.S. 67 to keep in mind as this bill makes its way through Congress. Some of these may come in handy as you interact with the media and/or members of your communities. While this is a monumental first step in designating US 67 as an interstate, much work remains to be done so please stay engaged to help us push this over the goal line.
Key Benefits:
· By designating U.S. 67 from I-40 in North Little Rock to U.S. 412 in Walnut Ridge as “Future I-57â€, Arkansas and the nation would move closer toward recognizing the full economic benefit of building 122 miles of Interstate-quality highway. Once the final designation has occurred, communities along this corridor will no long be excluded from competing for recruitment of new industries that require proximity to an Interstate.
· This designation would move the Little Rock Metro area one step closer to adding a third two-digit Interstate and eventually Arkansas State Highway 440 east of Little Rock could be designated as I-440 since it is constructed to Interstate standards.
· With very little work to complete this corridor, it could serve to relieve heavy traffic burdens on other parts of the Interstate system.
· Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent to build 122 miles of Interstate-quality road with only 40 miles left to complete it to the Arkansas state line. Relatively little work also remains in Missouri to finish this major interior artery that would greatly improve transportation connectivity for the nation.
Proposed Route:
· While many people may have expected a designation of I-30 or I-730, after looking into all the guidelines and rules related to Interstate designations it was determined that the I-57 designation made the most sense for our region and the state and gave us the best chance of success. We recognize this will not happen overnight, but believe this is the best long-term option for our region and the state.
· Interstate 57 presently runs from Chicago, Illinois, to Sikeston, Missouri, covering 385 miles. The proposed addition would add approximately 236 miles and would terminate in the Little Rock metro area.
· In Missouri, the new route would continue from its present-day end point near I-55 and run along U.S. 60 to Popular Bluff before heading south on U.S. 67 to U.S. 160. This entire corridor is four-lane divided highway comprised of 17 miles that is Interstate grade controlled access and 45 miles that is near Interstate grade with limited access. The U.S. 60/U.S. 67 interchange in Poplar Bluff is already built to Interstate standards.
· The next 12 miles, continuing south from U.S. 160 to the Arkansas state line, are a two-lane highway.
· Present routes from the Missouri state line to Walnut Ridge vary from a two-lane to a four-lane undivided to a five-lane U.S. highway and cover approximately 50 miles. New construction would provide a shorter route by almost 10 miles.
· U.S. 67 from U.S. 412 in Walnut Ridge to I-40 in North Little Rock is built to Interstate standards, covering approximately 122 miles.
· The proposed addition to I-57 would lengthen it to approximately 621 miles of which roughly 524 miles presently are either Interstate or Interstate-grade highways. An additional 45 miles are on a four-lane divided U.S. highway with some limited access. Only 52 miles of new four-lane divided construction are needed – 12 miles in Missouri and 40 miles in Arkansas.