Arkansas Highway 23
Pig Trail Scenic Byway | ||||
Route information | ||||
Maintained by ArDOT | ||||
Length | 132.152 mi[1][2][3][4][5] (212.678 km) | |||
Existed | April 1, 1926–present | |||
Major junctions | ||||
South end | US 71 near Elm Park | |||
AR 10 in Booneville US 64 in Ozark I-40 in Ozark US 412 in Huntsville US 62 in Eureka Springs | ||||
North end | Route P at the Missouri state line | |||
Location | ||||
Country | United States | |||
State | Arkansas | |||
Counties | Scott, Logan, Franklin, Madison, Carroll | |||
Highway system | ||||
|
Highway 23 (AR 23) is a north–south state highway in Arkansas. The route runs 129.88 miles (209.02 km) from U.S. Route 71 (US 71) near Elm Park north to the Missouri state line through Ozark and Eureka Springs.[6] For 19.0 miles [30.6 km] between Interstate 40 (I-40) in Ozark and AR 16 at Brashears, AR 23 winds through the Ozark National Forest and is designated as the Pig Trail Scenic Byway due to its steep hills and hairpin turns. The route has a strong connection with the University of Arkansas Razorbacks, historically serving as the primary highway connection for fans in Central Arkansas to Fayetteville.[7]
AR 23 has two auxiliary routes: a short, unsigned city route designation in Huntsville, and a western alternate route known as AR 23W serving Withrow Springs State Park. All three routes are maintained by the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT).
Route description
AR 23 begins at US 71 near the unincorporated community of Elm Park in Scott County, within the Arkansas River Valley region. The highway runs east across the Petit Jean River to enter Logan County.[8] AR 23 runs northeast through the unincorporated communities of Ione and Carolan, where it intersects a former alignment, before winding east to a junction with AR 116 south of Booneville. Now running north, AR 23 again crosses the Petit Jean River before entering Booneville. AR 23 runs north as Sharpe Avenue, passing the Logan County Fairgrounds and serving as the northern terminus for AR 217 (Magazine Street) before shifting one block west to Broadway Avenue. The highway passes through the Booneville Commercial Historic District[9] and the Farmers and Merchants Bank-Masonic Lodge,[10] both listed on the National Register of Historic Places, before a junction with AR 10 (Main Street) in downtown Booneville.[11]
Continuing north, AR 23 passes the Bank of Booneville Building,[12] Booneville Methodist Episcopal Church South,[13] and the Logan County Courthouse (Logan County has two county seats).[14] It exits Booneville to the north, serving as the western terminus for another segment of AR 116 before passing through the unincorporated community of Brownsville. Continuing north to Chismville, AR 23 passes the historic Dr. Stephen H. Chism House[15] and serves as a terminus for another segment of AR 127 and AR 41 before entering Franklin County.[16] The route runs only briefly in Franklin County before returning to Logan County, where it enters the small town of Caulksville.[17] AR 23 serves as a terminus for AR 398 before intersecting AR 22 an exiting Caulksville northbound back into Franklin County.[16]
The highway continues northbound, intersecting AR 288 south of Etna, serving as the eastern terminus for AR 96, and serving as the northern terminus for AR 309 (Mount Magazine Scenic Byway) at Webb City. North of Webb City, AR 23 crosses the Arkansas River on a 1930 concrete arch bridge known as the "Ozark Bridge" to enter the city of Ozark.[18]
After the bridge, highway runs north as 7th Street for two blocks before an intersection with US 64 (Commercial Street), and a concurrency forms westbound. The concurrency ends when AR 23 turns north onto 18th Street, running north past the Arkansas Tech University–Ozark Campus to a junction with AR 96 (Airport Road) near the Ozark-Franklin County Airport. Continuing north, AR 23 meets I-40 before exiting the city limits.[19][17] AR 23 now passes through a rural area, serving as the western terminus of AR 352 at White Oak and passing through Felker Town before entering the Ozark National Forest, where the highway adopts the Pig Trail Scenic Byway designation. The highway becomes winding and steep, crossing the Mulberry River (one of the nation's National Wild and Scenic Rivers) on the historic Mulberry River Bridge at Turner's Bend, with nearby access for float trips and camping.[20] The highway continues north to Cass, where it serves as the northern terminus of AR 215 near another access point on the Mulberry River.
AR 23 meets AR 16 north of the forest west St. Paul where the two roads run concurrent.
Northeast of St Paul, AR 23 and AR 16 split and AR 23 continues north through Madison County, meeting AR 74 south of Huntsville and US 412 BUS in Huntsville.[21] North of town, AR 23 crosses US 412. AR 23 next passes Withrow Springs State Park, AR 127 and AR 12 before intersecting US 62 in Eureka Springs. AR 23 and US 62 have a short concurrency before 23 turns north passing AR 187 near Holiday Island before terminating at SSR-P at the Missouri state line.
Major intersections
Mile markers reset at concurrencies.
County | Location | mi[22] | km | Destinations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scott | | 0.000 | 0.000 | US 71 – Waldron, Fort Smith | |
Logan | Carolan | Carolan Road east | Former AR 23 | ||
| 13.419 | 21.596 | AR 116 – Booneville Human Development Center | ||
Booneville | Carolan Road west | Former AR 23 | |||
15.5 | 24.9 | AR 217 south (Magazine Street) – Hise Hill Rec Area, Blue Mountain Wildlife Demonstration Area | |||
15.9 | 25.6 | AR 10 (Main Street) – Mount Magazine State Park | |||
| 17.0 | 27.4 | AR 116 east | ||
Chismville | 22.7 | 36.5 | AR 217 north – Charleston | ||
| 23.1 | 37.2 | AR 41 north – Branch | ||
Franklin | No major intersections | ||||
Logan | Caulksville | 29.7 | 47.8 | AR 398 | |
31.1 | 50.1 | AR 22 – Fort Smith, Paris | |||
Franklin | | 35.4 | 57.0 | AR 288 to AR 41 – Roseville | |
| 41.7 | 67.1 | AR 96 west – Cecil | ||
Webb City | AR 309 south (Mount Magazine Scenic Byway) / CR 42 west (Plantation Road) – Mount Magazine State Park | ||||
| 42.747 | 68.795 | Ozark Bridge over Arkansas River | ||
Ozark | 43.189– 0.000 | 69.506– 0.000 | US 64 (Commercial Street) – Clarksville, Alma | ||
1.1 | 1.8 | AR 96 east (Airport Road) – Airport | |||
3.2 | 5.1 | I-40 – Fort Smith, Little Rock | I-40 exit 35 | ||
White Oak | 4.8 | 7.7 | AR 352 east | ||
Cass | 17.2 | 27.7 | AR 215 north | ||
Madison | Brashears | 27.7 | 44.6 | AR 16 west – Fayetteville | South end of AR 16 overlap |
| 31.5 | 50.7 | AR 16 east – Pettigrew | South end of AR 16 overlap | |
Aurora | 45.0 | 72.4 | AR 127 south | ||
| 47.8 | 76.9 | AR 74 east – Kingston | ||
Huntsville | 52.2 | 84.0 | To AR 74 / Harris Street (AR 23C north) | ||
52.249– 0.000 | 84.087– 0.000 | US 412B (Wareagle Avenue) – Huntsville Business District, Alpena | |||
| 1.9 | 3.1 | US 412 to US 62 – Springdale | Interchange | |
| 4.2 | 6.8 | Withrow Springs State Park (AR 23W north) | ||
Forum | Withrow Springs State Park (AR 23W south) | ||||
AR 127 south – Alabam | |||||
| 15.7 | 25.3 | AR 12 west to AR 127 – Clifty | ||
Carroll | Eureka Springs | 25.725 | 41.400 | US 62 east – Harrison | South end of US 62 overlap |
0.000 | 0.000 | US 62 west – Beaver Dam, Rogers, Bentonville | North end of US 62 overlap | ||
Spring Street | Former US 62B west | ||||
| 4.6 | 7.4 | AR 187 south – Beaver | ||
| 10.989 | 17.685 | Route P | Missouri state line | |
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
|
Location | Huntsville |
---|---|
Length | 0.23 mi[22] (370 m) |
Huntsville city route
Arkansas Highway 23C (AR 23C) is an unsigned city route in Huntsville.[22] The route is 0.23 miles (0.37 km) beginning at AR 23. It travels north and turns east, continuing west as U.S. Route 412B (US 412B). After briefly traveling to the east, the highway terminates at AR 23 near the beginning of a concurrency with US 412.
Highway 23W
Location | Withrow Springs State Park |
---|---|
Length | 2.65 mi[22] (4.26 km) |
Existed | November 22, 1966[23]–present |
Arkansas Highway 23W (AR 23W) is a 2.65-mile (4.26 km) long north–south loop west of AR 23 in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. Its southern terminus is at AR 23 south of Withrow Springs State Park. Its northern terminus is at an intersection with AR 23 just south of AR 127 at Forum, 7 miles (11 km) north of Huntsville. The highway serves as the primary north–south access road to the state park.
References
- ^ Planning Division (April 30, 2024). State Highway Route and Section Map, Scott County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- ^ Planning Division (April 30, 2024). State Highway Route and Section Map, Logan County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- ^ Planning Division (April 30, 2024). State Highway Route and Section Map, Franklin County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- ^ Planning Division (April 30, 2024). State Highway Route and Section Map, Madison County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- ^ Planning Division (April 30, 2024). State Highway Route and Section Map, Carroll County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- ^ General Highway Map (PDF) (Map) (Carroll County ed.). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
- ^ "Pig Trail Scenic Byway Overview." America's Byways. United States Department of Transportation. Overview Archived 2013-09-10 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2011-05-28.
- ^ Planning and Research Division (n.d.). General Highway Map, Scott County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- ^ "National Register Information System – Booneville Commercial Historic District (#13000351)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ "National Register Information System – Farmers and Merchants Bank-Masonic Lodge (#93001257)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ Transportation Planning and Policy Division (September 2020). Map of Booneville, Logan County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:12,000. Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. §§ C3–C4, D3–D4. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ "National Register Information System – Bank of Booneville Building (#78000608)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ "National Register Information System – Booneville Methodist Episcopal Church South (#11000301)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ "National Register Information System – Logan County Courthouse, Southern Judicial District (#97000207)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ "National Register Information System – Dr. Stephen H. Chism House (#94000853)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ a b Planning and Research Division (n.d.). General Highway Map, Logan County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ a b Planning and Research Division (n.d.). General Highway Map, Franklin County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ Varnell, Curtis (June 23, 2021). "Bridges to the past". Southwest Times Record. Fort Smith, AR: Gannett. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ Planning and Research Division (August 2024). Map of Ozark, Franklin County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:12,000. Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. §§ A2, C4, D4–D5. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ Arkansas Atlas & Gazetteer (Map) (Fifth ed.). 1:127,000. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. 2018. pp. 7, 44. ISBN 9781946494207. OCLC 1066245581.
- ^ General Highway Map (PDF) (Map) (Madison County ed.). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
- ^ a b c d "[Arkansas] State Highways 2009 (Database)." April 2010. AHTD: Planning and Research Division. Database. Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved May 28, 2011.
- ^ "Minutes of the Meeting" (PDF). Arkansas State Highway Commission. November 22, 1966. p. 563. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
External links
Media related to Arkansas Highway 23 at Wikimedia Commons