Highway 112 (AR 112, Ark. 112, and Hwy. 112) is a north–south state highway in Northwest Arkansas. The route of 25.84 miles (41.59 km) runs from Highway 16 Spur north through Fayetteville, across I-49/US 62/US 71 to Highway 12 in Bentonville.[2][3]
 Highway 112 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by ArDOT | ||||
| Length | 25.84 mi[1] (41.59 km) | |||
| Existed | 1926–present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |  AR 16S in Fayetteville | |||
    I-49 / US 62 / US 71 / US 71B in Fayetteville US 412 in Tontitown | ||||
| North end |  AR 12 in Bentonville | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Arkansas | |||
| Counties | Washington, Benton | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
Route description
edit
The highway turns north and becomes Garland Avenue, which is a median-divided highway until Highway 112S. The medians were added in 2009 after contention from the City of Fayetteville and residents. Ultimately, it was decided to have one continuous median that becomes a turn lane, with separate bike lanes on both sides.[4]
Highway 112 begins at Highway 16 Spur (Wedington Drive) in Fayetteville just north of the University of Arkansas campus. The route continues as an important artery through the city. The highway serves as the southern terminus of US 71B at an interchange with I-49/US 62/US 71. AR 112 continues north to Tontitown as Maestri Road, intersecting US 412 in Tontitown. Continuing north through Elm Springs as Elm Street, the route enters Benton County.
Highway 112 runs north in a brief concurrency with Highway 264 in Cave Springs before entering Bentonville and terminating at Highway 12 near the Bentonville Municipal Airport.
History
edit
Highway 112 was one of the original 1926 state highways.[5] The original Highway 112 was unpaved and ran 2.2 miles (3.5 km) from Arkansas Highway 16 in Fayetteville north to an area south of Johnson. The route was paved in 1948, and extended north to Bentonville in 1951.[6] The Cave Springs to Highway 12 segment was paved at the time of addition, with the entire length becoming paved by 1956. Highway 112S was created in 1971 from a segment of Highway 16.[citation needed]
In the early 2000s, an agreement between the ARDOT, City of Fayetteville, and University of Arkansas to widen Highway 112 to four lanes between Highway 16 (15th Street) and I-49 came into place. Construction began in 2006 between North Street (Highway 112S) to Janice Street and continued intermittently over the years as funding came available. As part of the agreement, ARDOT would build and pay for the widening projects, with Fayetteville accepting the road under city maintenance and control after the widening was complete. The University would maintain landscaping throughout the segment crossing the campus of the University of Arkansas.[7][8]
The route was truncated to its current northern terminus in February 2012, the route formerly continued along Highway 12 and US 71B to terminate at Highway 72 in Bentonville.[3]
The route closely follows the same path it did during the Civil War and is designated as part of the Arkansas Civil War Trail.[9] Highway 112 is also designated as part of the Arkansas Trail of Tears northern route.[10]
Future
editAs traffic increased on I-49, Highway 112 became a shortcut to avoid the interstate. However, the route quickly became congested itself due to the growing population of Bentonville and the desire to find a quicker route to reach the Northwest Arkansas National Airport.[11] As a result, the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT) has made plans to widen a 12 mi (19 km) stretch of the route between US 412 in Tontitown to its northern terminus at Highway 12 in Bentonville.[12] In late-September 2023, the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) approved ArDOT's request for a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), allowing them to begin right-of-way acquisition for the widening of the roadway.[11][13] The project will expand Highway 112 from two to four lanes with a raised median, curb and gutter, a sidewalk on one side of the highway and a side path on the other side of the highway. At least eight roundabouts will also be constructed.[14] Construction is set to being in 2025; a completion date has not been announced yet.[11]
Another 5.5 mi (8.9 km) stretch of Highway 112 south of the US 412 intersection will also be widened in the same way, although this will be a separate project from the widening project to the north of US 412.[11]
Major intersections
edit
| County | Location | mi[2][3] | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | Fayetteville | 3.17 | 5.10 |  AR 16S west (Wedington Drive) – Siloam Springs | Southern terminus; AR 16S eastern terminus |
| 5.21 | 8.38 |  I-49 / US 62 / US 71 / US 71B north (North Fulbright Expressway) – Fort Smith, Springdale | I-49 exit 66; US 71B southern terminus | ||
| Tontitown | 11.14 | 17.93 | US 412 (Henri De Tonti Boulevard) – Springdale, Siloam Springs | ||
| Benton | Springdale |   AR 612 east (Springdale Northern Bypass) | AR 612 western terminus; opened on April 30th, 2018 | ||
| Cave Springs | 20.15– 20.52 | 32.43– 33.02 |  AR 264 – Lowell, Northwest Arkansas National Airport | AR 264 concurrency | |
| Bentonville | 25.84 | 41.59 | AR 12 west (SW Regional Airport Blvd) | Northern terminus; AR 12 eastern terminus | |
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
| |||||
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ Planning and Research Division (March 28, 2012). "Arkansas Road Log Database". Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Archived from the original (MBD) on June 23, 2011. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
- ^ a b General Highway Map, Washington County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. February 6, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
- ^ a b c General Highway Map, Benton County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. December 13, 2011. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
- ^ Robbins, Mary (August 5, 2009). "Council reaffirms support for Garland Ave medians". Fayetteville Flyer. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
- ^ Map of State of Arkansas showing System of State Highways (Map). [Arkansas] State Highway Department. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved March 21, 2011.
- ^ Official Map of Arkansas (Map). Arkansas State Highway Commission. Archived from the original on October 13, 2011. Retrieved March 21, 2011.
- ^ Wood, Ron (May 3, 2020). "Widening last section of Garland set 20 years on". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. WEHCO Media. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ "Resolution to Express the Agreement of the City Council to Accept the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department's Offer to Complete the Highway 112 (Garland Avenue) Widening and Improvement Project (North to Melmar) if the City Transfers its Garland Avenue Commitment to the Highway 112 and Hwy 71B Interchange Project Scheduled for 2013" (PDF). City of Fayetteville. January 18, 2010. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
- ^ "www.arkansasheritagetrails.com/Civil-War/pea-ridge-campaign.aspx". www.arkansasheritagetrails.com. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
- ^ "The Trail of Tears History - Arkansas Trail of Tears". www.arkansasheritagetrails.com. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
- ^ a b c d Sparkman, Worth (27 September 2023). "NWA's Arkansas 112 widening gets federal go-ahead". Axios NW Arkansas. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- ^ "Public Notice Hwy 112 FONSI 012305 090513 090514 090636". ardot.hub.arcgis.com. ARDOT. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- ^ "ARDOT expanding Highway 112 in northwest Arkansas". 5newsonline.com. September 25, 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- ^ Ramirez, Elena (25 September 2023). "ARDOT gets approval on Highway 112 project". KNWA FOX24. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
External links
edit
Media related to Arkansas Highway 112 at Wikimedia Commons