U.S. Route 67 in Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
US 67 highlighted in red
|
||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by AHTD | ||||
| Length | 279.15 mi (449.25 km) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |   US 67 / US 82 in Texarkana at Texas state line |
|||
|
||||
| North end | US 67 near Corning at Missouri state line |
|||
| Location | ||||
| Counties: | Miller, Hempstead, Nevada, Clark, Hot Spring, Saline, Pulaski, Lonoke, White, Jackson, Craighead, Lawrence, Randolph, Clay | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| United States Numbered Highways List • Bannered • Divided • Replaced Arkansas Highway System
|
||||
→U.S. Route 67 (US 67) is a major highway in the United States. It stretches all the way from Presidio, Texas in the southwest to Sabula, Iowa in the northeast. In Arkansas, this road covers about 279 miles (449 km). It starts at the Texas border in Texarkana and goes northeast to the Missouri border near Corning.
Along its journey through Arkansas, US 67 passes through many interesting cities and towns. These include Hope, Benton, Little Rock, Jacksonville, Cabot, Beebe, Walnut Ridge, and Pocahontas.
Contents
Exploring the Route of US 67
US 67 starts its journey in Arkansas from Texas, entering Texarkana. Here, it shares the road with US 82 on a one-way street called 7th Street. After a short distance, US 67 separates from US 82 and heads northeast. It passes by Texarkana Regional Airport.
The highway then runs alongside Interstate 30, going through cities like Hope, Prescott, Arkadelphia, and Malvern. Near Benton, US 67 joins I-30. They travel together into Little Rock. In Little Rock, other major highways like US 65 and US 167 also join this busy freeway.
In North Little Rock, US 67 and US 167 turn east. They share the road with Interstate 40 for about 2 miles (3.2 km). Then, they branch off and continue northeast as a freeway.
When the road reaches Beebe, US 67 and US 167 are joined by U.S. 64. These three routes travel together for a while. They eventually split up in Bald Knob. From there, US 67 continues as a freeway heading northeast.
North of Walnut Ridge, the freeway section of US 67 ends. It becomes a five-lane highway that goes north to Pocahontas. From Pocahontas, the road turns northeast and then east. Here, it becomes a two-lane highway and travels with US 62. Finally, in Corning, US 62 goes east, while US 67 turns north again. It then crosses the state line into Missouri.
History of US 67
The path that US 67 follows has always been an important travel route in Arkansas. Long before it was called US 67, this route was known as the Southwest Trail. This was an old military road from around 1803. The Southwest Trail connected St. Louis, Missouri, with Texas. People could travel by steamboat to Fulton, Arkansas, and then use the trail.
Many towns grew up along this route because the main railroad was built next to the Southwest Trail. In 1831, President Andrew Jackson set aside money for the road and called it a National Road. Even though the exact path changed a little over time, it always followed the natural boundary between the Ozark Mountains, the Ouachita Mountains, and the Mississippi Alluvial Plain.
In the early 1900s, each county had to raise money for road upkeep, which made it hard to improve the route. But in the 1920s, the government started providing money. That's when the route was officially named U.S. Route 67. This new federal funding helped pave the road, which helped the small towns along the route grow even more.
In 2009, the Arkansas legislature passed a law to name part of US 67 "Rock n' Roll U.S. 67." This part runs from the Missouri state line to Jackson County. It was named to honor the musicians of the 1950s and 1960s who traveled this road. Governor Mike Beebe hoped this name would bring more visitors to northeast Arkansas. Another part of the route, along with Arkansas Highway 7 between Hope and Hot Springs, is called The Highway of Hope. This is because Bill Clinton often used it.
Old Sections of US 67 on the National Register
Some parts of the original US 67, built in the late 1920s, are still around today. Some of these old sections are even listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites.
- One old section is in Lawrence County. It's about 11.25 miles (18.11 km) long. It runs north from Alicia to Hoxie. Much of this old road is found between the current Arkansas Highway 367 and US 67, right next to the railroad tracks.
- Another old section is about 11 miles (18 km) long. It goes from Biggers in Randolph County northeast to Datto in Clay County. Then it goes straight north to meet Arkansas Highway 211.
Mandeville's Historic Roadway
A special part of the old US 67 is saved in Miller County, Arkansas. It's called Old US 67, Mandeville on the National Register of Historic Places. This section runs for 5.5 miles (8.9 km) next to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. It starts north of the Texarkana Airport and goes northeast.
This old road was built in 1929 using concrete. It's the longest piece of the original US 67 pavement left in Miller County. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 because of its historical importance.
The Future of US 67
Arkansas is working to make US 67 a modern freeway, like an Interstate highway. This upgrade is happening from Little Rock all the way to the Missouri state line. This improved road is planned to become an extension of Interstate 57.
Right now, the freeway part of US 67 goes from Little Rock to Walnut Ridge. It's not yet known exactly when or where the rest of the freeway will be built from Walnut Ridge to the Missouri state line.
Major Connections of US 67
US 67 connects with many other important roads and interstates as it travels through Arkansas.
- In Texarkana, it connects with US 82 and I-30.
- Near Benton, US 67 merges with I-30 and travels with it into Little Rock.
- In North Little Rock, it connects with I-40, US 65, and US 167.
- Further north, in Beebe, it joins US 64.
- Near Walnut Ridge, it connects with US 412.
- In Pocahontas, it begins to travel with US 62 all the way to Corning.
- Finally, it crosses into Missouri to continue as U.S. Route 67 there.
Images for kids
-
Original trace of the Southwest Trail, precursor to U.S. Route 67 in the area.
