One section (Monticello Bypass) open with 2 lanes of traffic (signed as US278 Byp.);[1] remainder of route in various stages of design and land acquisition
Interstate69 (I-69) is a proposed Interstate Highway that will pass through the southeastern part of the US state of Arkansas. Signs indicating the corridor of the Interstate have been placed at various highways throughout the state. The only section of Future I-69 that is currently open to traffic is the 8.5-mile (13.7km) eastern leg of the Monticello Bypass. This section of the Monticello Bypass is currently two lanes and signed as US Highway278 Bypass (US278 Byp.). A second section between the eastern end of the Monticello Bypass and Arkansas Highway 293 (AR293) is under construction, and is expected to carry the designation of Arkansas Highway 569 from its opening until a time when a sufficient amount of freeway has been completed to receive the I-69 designation.
Route description
I-69 is planned to enter Arkansas from Louisiana and bypass El Dorado. The route is set to go in an northeastern direction. It will cross U.S. Route 63 (US 63) south of Wilmar, Arkansas. Southeast of Monticello, I-69 will meet I-530 before crossing US 425 bypassing Monticello south and east on what is currently a two-lane highway. The only portion of the planned route that is built is from US 425 to US 278 signed as US 278 Bypass. After crossing US 278, I-69 continues east. It will cross US 65 north of McGehee before crossing the Mississippi River to enter Mississippi via Charles W. Dean Bridge along with US 278.
Planned extension
I-69 has been divided into a number of sections of independent utility (SIUs).
On October 15, 2006, the FHWA directed the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) to begin land acquisition for I-69 from US65 to the west bank of the Mississippi River where the Dean Bridge will be built.[2] The first phase of this section was funded for FY2010 in AHTD's 2010–2013 Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP).[3] In January 2017, AHTD reported that the Arkansas portion of SIU12, including the Charles W. Dean Bridge, is "shovel ready", pending receipt of funding and completion of any actions required on the part of Mississippi to begin construction on the bridge.
SIU 13
US278 will leave I-69 near McGehee and rejoin its existing routing. I-69 will continue on a separate alignment to Monticello, where it will meet the I-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 US82 west of El Dorado between Magnolia and El Dorado.
The final environmental impact statement (EIS) on SIU13 was completed in April 2006, and the FHWA issued an ROD approving the EIS on May25, 2006. This 103-mile (166km) segment is currently in the final design phase, with construction expected to cost $784million.[4] Arkansas further divides SIU13 into several smaller segments. Construction on the first leg of SIU13, the 8.5-mile (13.7km) eastern leg of the Monticello Bypass between US425 and US278 east of Monticello, began in November2011.[5] The first two lanes of the Monticello Bypass (initially signed as US278 Byp.) opened to traffic on October 11, 2018, and represents the first I-69 mainline project to be completed in Arkansas. Arkansas submitted a $25-million FASTLane grant application to the FHWA in May 2016 to continue design and right-of-way acquisition for the 25-mile (40km) section of I-69 between Monticello and McGehee.[6] In November 2016, AHTD submitted a revision to its FASTLane grant application requesting additional funds to include construction of the McGehee to Monticello section.[7] According to the 2021–2024 STIP, $69million (equivalent to $82.2million in 2024[8]) is planned in FY2022 to begin construction on two lanes of the Monticello–McGhee section.[9] Construction began following a groundbreaking ceremony on December 23, 2022.[10][11] Phase1 will be from US278 at the northern end of the Monticello Bypass to AR293, completion not determined. Phase2, which construction will occur in 2025, will be from AR293 to US65.[12] An additional $4.9million (equivalent to $5.91million in 2024[8]) was allocated in FY2019 to continue design and right-of-way acquisition for the western section of the Monticello Bypass.[13]
SIU 14
From US82, I-69 will continue to the southwest, crossing the Louisiana state line near Haynesville, Louisiana. 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.
SIU28 will extend I-530 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 four-mile (6.4km) section of the I-530 extension opened to traffic between AR35 and US278 near Wilmar signed as AR530. The remaining portions of SIU28 are in various stages of land acquisition and construction.[14] Objections from the community of Pinebergen has forced planners to reconsider the routing of the northernmost segment of the I-530 extension, delaying its construction.[15] 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.[16] On March 8, 2008, AHTD awarded an $11.8-million (equivalent to $16.8million in 2024[8]) contract to T.J. Lambrecht Construction, Inc. of Joliet, Illinois, to construct 10 miles (16km) of the I-530 extension through Jefferson, Lincoln, and Cleveland counties.[17] A segment from I-530 to AR114 opened in 2013 with a segment from AR114 to AR11 opened in 2015. There is still a 9-mile gap between AR11 and AR35.
↑"I-69 FASTLANE Grant Application"(PDF). Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department. November 30, 2016. Archived from the original(PDF) on July 28, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
↑Buerkle, Rebecca (June 5, 2006). "New Arkansas Highway To Be Dedicated". KTHV. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved June 7, 2021. It's only a four-and-a-half mile stretch of highway, but South Arkansas leaders are hoping its completion will be the beginning of an interstate project to bring economic growth to the region.
↑Rued, Monika (February 20, 2006). "Interstate 530 Plans In Neutral". KTHV. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved June 9, 2021. State representative Booker T. Clemons, says the project has been on hold since a meeting of Pinebergen residents in September. At that meeting, residents objected to the planned route for the extension, which would be within 1,000 feet of the Jefferson County community, southeast of Pine Bluff.
↑"I-69 Connector Interchange Construction Kickoff Set for Monday". Arkansas Business. October 7, 2007. ISSN1053-6582. OCLC612446840. Archived from the original on October 14, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2021. An official kickoff of construction on the Interstate 69 Connector interchange will be held at 10 a.m. on Oct. 29, at the Ohio Street site in Pine Bluff. Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., Highway Commissioner Madison Murphy of El Dorado and Dan Flowers, director of the Arkansas Highway & Transportation Department, will join Jefferson County Judge Mike Holcomb and Pine Bluff Mayor Carl A. Redus, Jr. on the program.
.svg)
