Major General James G. Blunt

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Interstate 40 (I-40) is an east–west Interstate Highway that has a 284.69-mile (458.16 km) section in the U.S. state of Arkansas, connecting Oklahoma to Tennessee. The route enters Arkansas from the west just north of the Arkansas River near Dora. It travels eastward across the northern portion of the state, connecting the cities of Fort Smith, Clarksville, Russellville, Morrilton, Conway, North Little Rock, Forrest City, and West Memphis. I-40 continues into Tennessee, heading through Memphis. The highway has major junctions with I-540 at Van Buren (the main highway connecting to Fort Smith), I-49 at Alma (the main highway connecting to Fayetteville and Bentonville), I-30 in North Little Rock (the Interstate linking south to Texarkana and Dallas, Texas), and I-55 to Blytheville.

For the majority of its routing through Arkansas, I-40 follows the historic alignment of two separate U.S. Highways. From Oklahoma to Little Rock, I-40 generally follows U.S. Highway 64 through the Ozark Mountains. East of Little Rock, the route generally follows the routing of US 70 until the Tennessee state line.

Route description

Oklahoma to Little Rock

I-540/US 71 run south from I-40 at exit 7 in Van Buren, providing access to the larger city of Fort Smith.[2]
I-30 begins at I-40/US 65/AR 107 and runs south at I-30/US 65/US 67/US 167.

I-40 enters Arkansas from Oklahoma at Dora in Crawford County.[2] It heads east into Van Buren, giving access to Fort Smith as well across the Arkansas River to the south. Access is primarily via I-540/US 71, which was built as a southern spur to Fort Smith in the 1970s. I-40 overlaps with US 71, forming a concurrency until the alignment of I-49 breaks north to Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville, and its northern Arkansas terminus in Bella Vista, with US 71 breaking away shortly afterward at another interchange.[3][4] The route continues to parallel US 64 into the Ozark Mountains by entering Franklin County and providing access to the Pig Trail Scenic Byway in Ozark.[5] I-40 runs through Clarksville (where it has a junction with US 64), passes over part of Lake Dardanelle, and meets Highway 7 (AR 7) in Russellville.[6][7] I-40 continues to the east through Morrilton before turning south to Conway and Faulkner County.[8][9] In Conway, I-40 forms a concurrency with US 65 at exit 125, which continues until exit 153A in Little Rock. The highway also has another junction with US 64 and U.S. Highway 65 Business (US 65B) in Conway before passing Lake Conway and entering the Little Rock metropolitan area.[9]

Little Rock to Tennessee

In West Memphis, Arkansas, I-40 is designated as a Blue Star Memorial Highway.

Now in Pulaski County, I-40 heads toward the south-southeast as it heads to the town of Maumelle. It continues toward this direction until it reaches I-430, which provides access along the westside of Little Rock.[10] Further southeast near the Arkansas River, the route has a high volume interchange as the northern terminus of I-30 as well as concurrent routes with US 67/US 167; US 65 turns south at this intersection, breaking the concurrency formed in Conway.[10] I-40 (now concurrent with US 67 and US 167) continues east for 1.5 miles (2.4 km) before the US 67/US 167 concurrency turns north as a separate northeasterly expressway.[10] From this point onward, I-40 begins to parallel US 70 rather than US 64, which was a more or less a parallel route until Conway. The Interstate continues to the east to intersect the concurrency of I-440/AR 440 before entering Lonoke County.[10] Passing through Lonoke, the route runs through rural Arkansas with straight alignments and relatively few junctions, forming an overlap with US 63 in Hazen until meeting US 49/AR 17 in Brinkley.[11][12][13] Upon entering St. Francis County, I-40 runs northeast to Forrest City, where it intersects with AR 1.[14] Continuing northeast, I-40 enters Crittenden County, where it intersects with US 79 at Shearerville and enters West Memphis.[15]

The highway continues to the northeast to an interchange with I-55, and the two routes form a concurrency east for 3.1 miles (5.0 km). I-40 continues east onto the Hernando de Soto Bridge over the Mississippi River. The Tennessee border is at the midpoint of the river, and Memphis, Tennessee, begins at the eastside of the bridge.[15]

History

Exit list

CountyLocationmikmExitDestinationsNotes
CrawfordFort Smith0.000.00
I-40 west – Oklahoma City
Continuation into Oklahoma
0.03–
0.70
0.048–
1.13
1Dora, Fort SmithWestbound exit and eastbound entrance. Other half of interchange is via Exit 330 in Oklahoma.
Van Buren3.125.023Lee Creek Road
5.268.475 AR 59 – Van Buren, Siloam Springs
7.3511.837

I-540 south / US 71 south – Van Buren, Fort Smith
Western end of US 71 concurrency; I-540 south to US 271; I-540 exits 1A-B, northern terminus; tri-stack interchange.
Alma12.2619.7312 I-49 – Fayetteville, TexarkanaI-49 to I-40 east exit 20; temporary southern end of I-49 segment; to use AR 549 freeway in Fort Smith; I-49 south to Texarkana not yet built besides AR 549.
Former northern branch of I-540; Proposed southern extension of Arkansas 549 Future I-49 as a super two-lane expressway starts late 2024 and should be completed by 2030
13.2521.3213
US 71 north – Alma
Eastern end of US 71 concurrency
Mulberry20.0032.1920Dyer, Mulberry
23.9538.5424 AR 215 – Mulberry
FranklinOzark34.5255.5535 AR 23 – Ozark, Huntsville
37.2659.9637 AR 219 – Ozark
Wiederkehr Village40.8365.7141 AR 186 – Altus
Johnson46.4074.6747 AR 164 – Hartman, Coal Hill
Clarksville54.7088.0355
US 64 to AR 109 – Hartman, Scranton, Clarksville
57.0191.7557Crawford Street
58.0593.4258
AR 103 to AR 21 – Clarksville
Lamar63.68102.4864 US 64 – Lamar
Knoxville66.47106.9767 AR 315 – Knoxville
PopeLondon73.84118.8374 AR 333 – London
77.61124.9078 US 64 – Russellville
Russellville80.90130.2081 AR 7 (Arkansas Avenue) – RussellvilleArkansas Scenic 7 Byway
82.99133.5683 AR 124 (Weir Road)Former AR 326
83.97135.1484
AR 331 to US 64 – Russellville
Pottsville87.99141.6188 AR 363 – Pottsville
Atkins93.71150.8194 AR 105 – Atkins
Conway100.53161.79101Blackwell
Morrilton106.33171.12107 AR 95 – Morrilton
107.83173.54108 AR 9 – Morrilton
Plumerville112.33180.78112
AR 92 north – Plumerville
Menifee117.37188.89117Menifee
FaulknerConway123.40198.59124
AR 25 north – Conway, Wooster
As of May 1, 2008 this exit now includes on-ramps and off-ramps in both directions.
124.94201.07125

US 65 north / US 65B south – Greenbrier, Harrison, Conway
Western end of US 65 concurrency
126.59203.73127 US 64 – Vilonia, Conway, Beebe
128.53206.85129

US 65B north / AR 286 (Dave Ward Drive) to AR 60
Signed as exits 129A (east) and 129B (north/west) westbound
Gold Creek132.14212.66132 AR 365 – Gold Creek
Mayflower135.27217.70135 AR 89 / AR 365 – Mayflower
Pulaski142.17228.80142 AR 365 – Morgan, Maumelle
North Little Rock147.18–
147.42
236.86–
237.25
147
I-430 south – Texarkana
I-430 exits 13A-B
148.01238.20148 AR 100 (Crystal Hill Road)
150.16241.66150Burns Park
151.85244.38152 AR 365 – LevyEastbound exit and westbound entrance
151.91244.48152A AR 176 – LevyWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
152.70245.75153A
AR 107 north (JFK Boulevard)
No eastbound entrance from northbound JFK Boulevard; southern terminus of AR 107
153.02246.26153B



I-30 west / US 65 south / US 67 south / US 167 south – Little Rock
Eastern terminus of I-30; eastern end of US 65 concurrency; western end of US 67/US 167 concurrency; I-30 exits 143A-B; left exit westbound.
154.11248.02154LakewoodEastbound exit and westbound entrance
154.61248.82155


Future I-57 north / US 67 north / US 167 north – Little Rock AFB, Jacksonville
Eastern end of US 67/US 167 concurrency; future southern terminus of I-57
155.55250.33156Springhill Drive — Baptist Health Medical Center-NLR
156.32251.57157Protho JunctionFormer AR 161
158.73255.45159

I-440 west / AR 440 east – Jacksonville, Texarkana
I-440 exits 11A-B.
160.60258.46161 AR 391 – Galloway
Lonoke164.58264.87165Kerr Road
168.35270.93169 AR 15 (Remington Road)
Lonoke172.87278.21173 AR 89 – Lonoke
174.35280.59175 AR 31 – Lonoke, Beebe
Carlisle182.25293.30183 AR 13 – Carlisle
PrairieHazen192.93310.49193
US 63 south / AR 11 – Hazen, Des Arc
Western end of US 63 concurrency
201.91324.94202 AR 33 – Biscoe, De Valls Bluff
MonroeBrinkley215.42346.68216

US 49 / US 63 north to AR 17 – Brinkley, Cotton Plant
Eastern end of US 63 concurrency
St. FrancisWheatley220.70355.18221 AR 78 – Wheatley, Marianna
Palestine232.88374.78233 AR 261 – Palestine
238.72384.18239 AR 1 – Wynne, Marianna
Forrest City240.40386.89241 AR 1B – Forrest City, WynneSigned as exits 241A (south) and 241B (north)
241.42388.53242 AR 284 (Crowley's Ridge Road)
246.70397.03247
AR 38 east – Hughes, Widener
255.86411.77256 AR 75 – Parkin
259.51417.64260 AR 149 – Earle
CrittendenJennette264.67425.95265
US 79 south / AR 218 – Jennette, Hughes
Western end of US 79 concurrency
West Memphis270.78435.78271 AR 147 – LeHi, Horseshoe Lake
274.81442.26275 AR 118 (College Boulevard)
276.14444.40276
To AR 77 (Missouri Street) / Rich Road
Eastbound exit only
276.70445.31277



I-55 north / US 61 north / US 64 west / US 78 west – Blytheville, Jonesboro, St. Louis
Western end of I-55/US 61/US 64/US 78 concurrency, south exit 8
277.22446.14278 AR 77 (Missouri Street) / AR 191 (7th Street)
279.11449.185Ingram BoulevardExit number follows I-55; provides access for motorists merging onto I-40 from I-55
279.37449.60279B




I-55 south / US 61 south / US 64 east / US 78 east / US 79 north – Memphis, Jackson MS
Eastern end of I-55/US 61/US 64/US 78/US 79 concurrency, north exit 5; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
278.97448.96279AIngram Boulevard
280.18450.91280Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Drive
280.68451.71281 AR 131 (Mound City Road)Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
Mississippi River284.03457.10Hernando de Soto Bridge
ArkansasTennessee line

I-40 east – Memphis, Nashville
Continuation into Tennessee
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ Planning and Research Division (2010). "Arkansas Road Log Database". Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Archived from the original (Database) on June 23, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  2. ^ a b General Highway Map, Crawford County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  3. ^ General Highway Map, Washington County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  4. ^ General Highway Map, Benton County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 7, 2011. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  5. ^ General Highway Map, Franklin County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2011. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  6. ^ General Highway Map, Johnson County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  7. ^ General Highway Map, Pope County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2006. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  8. ^ General Highway Map, Conway County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2008. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  9. ^ a b General Highway Map, Faulkner County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2009. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  10. ^ a b c d General Highway Map, Pulaski County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 7, 2011. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  11. ^ General Highway Map, Lonoke County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  12. ^ General Highway Map, Prairie County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  13. ^ General Highway Map, Monroe County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  14. ^ General Highway Map, St. Francis County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 13, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  15. ^ a b General Highway Map, Crittenden County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2011.

External links

KML is from Wikidata

Media related to Interstate 40 in Arkansas at Wikimedia Commons

Interstate 40
Previous state:
Oklahoma
Arkansas Next state:
Tennessee