Arkansas Highway 217

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Highway 217

AR 217 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by ArDOT
ExistedJuly 10, 1957[1]–present
Section 1
Length10.733 mi[2] (17.273 km)
South endHise Hill Park
North end AR 23 in Booneville
Section 2
Length18.350 mi[2][3][4] (29.531 km)
South end AR 23 at Chismville
North end AR 252
Section 3
Length1.271 mi[4] (2.045 km)
South end AR 252
North end AR 96
Location
CountryUnited States
StateArkansas
Highway system
← AR 216→ AR 218

Highway 217 (AR 217) is a designation for three state highways in Arkansas. All three provide connectivity in the Arkansas River Valley region: the longest connects rural communities to Charleston, with a shorter segment providing access to a recreational area, and a third running between two highways for less than 2 miles (3.2 km). All three highways are maintained by the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT).

The first segment was created in 1957 and extended in 1966 and 1970. Two additional segments were created in 1970 and 1974. The segment between AR 22 in Charleston and AR 60 is part of three routes in the Arkansas Heritage Trails System: Butterfield Overland Mail Trail and the Chickasaw and Choctaw routes on the Trail of Tears.

Route description

Hise Hill Park to Booneville

AR 217 begins at Hise Hill Recreation Area, a park maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers on the Petit Jean River just upstream of Blue Mountain Lake. The route runs northwest through Blue Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA) to the unincorporated community of Sugar Grove, where AR 217 intersects a former alignment of AR 109 just south of the historic Petit Jean River Bridge, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).[5] Continuing northwest, the route passes the J. Perry Mikles Blue Mountain Special Use Area,[6] which contains bird dog field trial areas, before serving as the southern terminus of present-day AR 109. AR 217 continues northwest, crossing the Petit Jean River and entering Booneville, the small-town county seat of Logan County. The route is briefly named Sugar Grove Road before becoming Magazine Street within Booneville.[7] AR 217 runs west to AR 23 (Sharpe Avenue), where it terminates.[8]

Chismville to AR 252

AR 217 runs north from AR 22 (foreground) as Greenwood Street in Charleston

A second segment of AR 217 begins near the unincorporated community of Chismville in northern Logan County. The route runs west into Franklin County,[8] turning due north as a section line road and serving as the eastern border of Fort Chaffee before entering Charleston, one of two county seats of Franklin County.[9] Upon entering Charleston, AR 217 takes the name Rattlesnake Road until a junction with AR 22 (Main Street/True Grit Trail). The two routes form a concurrency westbound through downtown Charleston for 0.8 miles (1.3 km), with AR 217 turning north onto Greenwood Street.[10] Exiting the city northbound, AR 217 crosses Doctor's Fork before a junction with AR 60. Continuing north, AR 217 serves as the eastern boundary of the Cherokee Prairie Natural Area, including crossing Prairie Creek, and later Sulphia Springs Creek, before a junction with AR 215 at Vesta. AR 217 turns west at this intersection, crossing Onion Creek and Turkey Creek before curving into Sebastian County.[9] The highway continues 1.2 miles (1.9 km) to a junction with AR 252, where it terminates.[11]

AR 252 to AR 96

A third segment of AR 217 begins at AR 252 northeast of Lavaca and east of the Arkansas River in Sebastian County. The route runs west and north to a junction with AR 96, where it terminates. It does not cross or concur with any other state highways.[11]

History

The Arkansas General Assembly passed the Act 148 of 1957, the Milum Road Act, creating 10–12 miles (16–19 km) of new state highways in each county.[12] Following the act, one of the highways created was AR 217 between Charleston and Vesta on July 10, 1957.[1] On November 23, 1966, the route was extended south to Chismville[13], with an extension to AR 252 on July 29, 1970.[14]

On October 28, 1970, a second segment of AR 217 was created along a county road leading to Hise Hill Use Area on Blue Mountain Lake.[15] A third segment along a county road between AR 96 and AR 252 was added to the state highway system on February 27, 1974.[16]

Between AR 22 and AR 60, the highway is part of the Arkansas Heritage Trails System: Butterfield Overland Mail Trail and the Chickasaw and Choctaw routes on the Trail of Tears.[17][18]

Major intersections

Mile markers reset at concurrencies.

CountyLocationmi[19][2][4]kmDestinationsNotes
Logan​0.0000.000Hise Hill ParkSouthern terminus
Sugar GroveOld Highway 109Former AR 109
​
 AR 109 north – Magazine		AR 109 southern terminus
Booneville10.73317.273 AR 23 (Sharpe Avenue) – BoonevilleNorthern terminus
Gap in route
Chismville0.0000.000 AR 23Southern terminus
FranklinCharleston8.680–
0.000		13.969–
0.000		 AR 22 (Main Street) – Fort Smith, Paris
​2.644.25 AR 60
Vesta5.869.43 AR 215
Sebastian​9.67015.562 AR 252Northern terminus
Gap in route
​0.0000.000 AR 252Southern terminus
​1.2712.045 AR 96Northern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ a b "Minutes of the Meeting of the Arkansas State Highway Commission" (PDF). Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway Commission. 1953–1969. p. 1784. OCLC 21798861. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Transportation Planning and Policy Division (September 17, 2021). Route and Section Map, Logan County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  3. ^ Transportation Planning and Policy Division (September 17, 2021). Route and Section Map, Franklin County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Transportation Planning and Policy Division (January 19, 2023). Route and Section Map, Sebastian County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  5. ^ "National Register Information System – Petit Jean River Bridge (#95000646)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  6. ^ Arkansas Atlas & Gazetteer (Map) (Fifth ed.). 1:127,000. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. 2018. p. 58. ISBN 9781946494207. OCLC 1066245581.
  7. ^ Transportation Planning and Policy Division (September 2020). Map of Booneville, Logan County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:12,000. Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. § D4. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Planning and Research Division (September 11, 2002). General Highway Map, Logan County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. OCLC 914233699. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Transportation Planning and Policy Division (April 18, 2011) [January 10, 2002]. General Highway Map, Franklin County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. OCLC 911290506. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  10. ^ Transportation Planning and Policy Division (April 2018). Map of Charleston, Franklin County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:12,000. Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. §§ B3–B4. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Transportation Planning and Policy Division (January 5, 2023) [January 22, 2013]. General Highway Map, Sebastian County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. OCLC 919149397. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  12. ^ Governmental Relations Office (2018). Development of Highway and Transportation Legislation in Arkansas (PDF). Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. p. 1. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  13. ^ "Minutes" (1953–1969), p. 559.
  14. ^ "Minutes of the Meeting of the Arkansas State Highway Commission" (PDF). Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway Commission. 1970–1979. p. 1649. OCLC 21798861. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  15. ^ "Minutes" (1970–1979), p. 1684.
  16. ^ "Minutes" (1970–1979), p. 938.
  17. ^ Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism (2020). "Butterfield Overland Mail Trail in Arkansas". Little Rock: State of Arkansas. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  18. ^ Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism (2020). "Arkansas Trail of Tears". Little Rock: State of Arkansas. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  19. ^ Arkansas Centerline File (GIS Map) (Map) (Updated ed.). Various. Arkansas GIS Office. January 22, 2024 [September 29, 2014]. Retrieved February 25, 2024.

External links

Media related to Arkansas Highway 217 at Wikimedia Commons

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