New in the DOT Fast Lane--New I-555 to spur growth, jobs in northeastern Arkansas

New I-555 to spur growth, jobs in northeastern Arkansas

Posted by Federal Highway Administrator Gregory Nadeau

 

Arkansas is on its way to having 44 miles of new interstate between I-55 Crittenden County and U.S. Highway in the city of Jonesboro.  The move to designate this section of U.S. Highway 63 as the Future I-555 has been in the works for decades but was recently made a reality with an exemption in the FAST Act that means a lot to the farming community in that region of Arkansas. 

 

Typically, agricultural vehicles are not allowed to use the interstate – but this exemption allows them to operate on a three-mile stretch, between Payneway and Marked Tree, to avoid a costly 90-mile detour.  With proper signage, other vehicles will know that these farmers are on the road as well to access their fields.    

 

Arkansas just unveiled the first “Future I-555” sign but all the hard work for the designation has been ongoing since the 1970s, including improvements to bring US 63 to interstate standards.  The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) has spent about $250 million to upgrade the highway and is already well ahead of the required timeline of 25 years to do so under federal rules.  

 

 

Continue reading here. 

 

 

You can read more on our Fast Lane blog.