BEEBE, Ark. — On Thursday, November 7, community members and officials gathered in Beebe to celebrate the official designation of portions of U.S. Highway 67 as part of Interstate 57. The event, held at the W.H. Owen Jr. Center Centennial Bank Gymnasium on the Arkansas State University – Beebe campus, marked a significant milestone for Arkansas infrastructure and regional connectivity.
Attendees included elected officials, Arkansas Highway Commission members, Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) leaders, and other community figures. The designation covers 110 miles of U.S. Highway 67 between North Little Rock and Walnut Ridge, with plans to extend the route up to the Missouri state line, ultimately connecting with the existing Interstate 57 in Sikeston, Missouri.
Interstate 57 currently spans over 400 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Sikeston, Missouri. This Arkansas extension, part of the 240-mile Future Interstate 57 Corridor, is designated a “High Priority Corridor,” which paved the way for its eventual integration as an Interstate route. Funding has already been allocated to continue construction northward, linking Walnut Ridge to Missouri.
“Designating the sections of U.S. Highway 67 that already meet Interstate standards as Interstate 57 highlights this route and the cities and counties along it for economic growth and job creation,” said Alec Farmer, Chairman of the Arkansas Highway Commission. He emphasized that the new designation will better connect central Arkansas to the broader network of major U.S. routes, such as Interstates 70, 80, and 90, through connections with Interstates 30 and 40.
Once complete, Interstate 57 will alleviate truck traffic congestion on Interstate 40 between West Memphis and Little Rock and along Interstate 55 between West Memphis and Sikeston. Improved regional mobility and increased transportation efficiency are anticipated to benefit both local communities and commerce across the state.
ARDOT Director Lorie Tudor celebrated the achievement, highlighting the collaboration required to reach this milestone. “The designation of Interstate 57 is the culmination of years of collaboration, planning, and perseverance,” she said. “This designation is great news for commerce in Arkansas, as it increases mobility between the south-central United States and the Midwest. We are extremely proud of this milestone and are grateful to all our partners who helped make it happen.”
The new designation promises to enhance Arkansas’s economic landscape by increasing connectivity and accessibility for businesses, travelers, and transport across the state and beyond.
