Edit: I meant US-75.

They will likely redo the US-169 interchange as well and hopefully it’s a complete five stack.

Why? There are no frontage roads to deal with so you only need 4 levels for a full interchange

Why? There are no frontage roads to deal with so you only need 4 levels for a full interchange
Ah true. I should’ve just said a fully directional interchange.

Well sh!t I didn’t get my wishes. This road will be I-42.

Item 132: https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/odot/transportation-commision/agenda/2023/tc_agenda-202309-r.pdf

18254

I couldn't help but to also notice the OKC loop renumbering in Item 131. Yikes lol.

Here is some, more useful information, if anyone wants to check out project cost, and start dates for some of the interchanges: https://oklahoma.gov/odot/progress-and-performance/federal-grant-awards/mpdg-grants/mpdg-2023-2024/us-412_priority_improvements_for_interstate_designati on.html

Arkansas will be the biggest challenge to getting this project completed


Most of the 170 miles of the highway in Oklahoma are already built to interstate standards, with four-lane divided highway and controlled access. Of the 20 miles in Arkansas, the only portion built to interstate standards is the completed section of the U.S. 412 Springdale Northern Bypass -- designated Arkansas 612 -- between I-49 and Arkansas 112. Work on the segment between Arkansas 112 and U.S. 412 in Tontitown is expected to begin soon.

A major early finding is that it's probably not feasible for the segment of U.S. 412 that passes through Siloam Springs to be converted to interstate standards, and alternative routes will have to be considered, likely a bypass.

The issue is at-grade intersections are not allowed on interstate highways, and there are 51 such intersections along U.S. 412 in the Siloam Springs study area alone that would have to be grade separated, removed, rerouted and/or connected by frontage roads in order to use the current alignment.

https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jun/11/converting-us-412-to-interstate-standard-faces/

Yes it’s well know Siloam Springs is going to need a bypass. There’s also the potential for alignment hiccups in West Siloam Springs in Oklahoma to connect with ODOTs. There is zero chance the 412 section the SP gets upgraded. It’s already a packed 6 lane road with tons of businesses and homes alongside it. It’ll likely be a northern bypass if I had to guess. Won’t be cheap either.

Yes it’s well know Siloam Springs is going to need a bypass. There’s also the potential for alignment hiccups in West Siloam Springs in Oklahoma to connect with ODOTs. There is zero chance the 412 section the SP gets upgraded. It’s already a packed 6 lane road with tons of businesses and homes alongside it. It’ll likely be a northern bypass if I had to guess. Won’t be cheap either.

I drove from Tulsa to Bentonville last weekend. What should be just under a 2 hour drive took 30 extra minutes because of 412 traffic in Siloam Springs and Springdale and gridlock along I-49. Next time I go I may take I-44 to Hwy 20/72 and come into town from the north.

I drove from Tulsa to Bentonville last weekend. What should be just under a 2 hour drive took 30 extra minutes because of 412 traffic in Siloam Springs and Springdale and gridlock along I-49. Next time I go I may take I-44 to Hwy 20/72 and come into town from the north.
Not a bad route. Sometimes going a bit further actually saves time. I’m surprised it’s taken this long just to get a bypass. I’m anxious to see ARDOTs proposal and timeline. They going to need to come up with one quick to assist ODOT in their plans for the section through West Siloam Springs.

... I’m anxious to see ARDOTs proposal and timeline. They going to need to come up with one quick to assist ODOT in their plans for the section through West Siloam Springs.

ARDOTs seems to have too many interstate plans for their budget. They just recently finished connecting I-49 to Missouri after a surprising amount of delays, they still have at least 150 of miles to connect I-49 from Ft Smith to Texarkana. There is this project, which is probably at least 20 miles to the Oklahoma boarder. Then they also have around 100 miles of I-69, with another few dozen so a spur will connect that to Little Rock.

Given ODOT/OTA seem to be going forward on this, it potentially is the most impact and lowest overall cost for them. However with I-49 just being finished in NW Arkansas, it may be difficult getting political will from other areas to have another major project to the same area. Though it seems like it is probably better to think of it as north of Siloam Springs than through it, as the spur they have of I-49 has been referenced as the planned destination, which seems positioned well to serve both for a bypass of Siloam Springs and possibly also improving the connection to their regional airport.

I-49 seems to have some limits of impact since Ft Smith to Texarkana already has an interstate option, though I-49 would cut out a bit over an hour of travel and improve highway connections for a several more cities & counties in SW Arkansas.

I-69 seems the hardest to ever get funds, as Shreveport to Memphis already have a freeway connection around the same distance, and the regions it travels between those junctions are pretty small cities. I-69 for Arkansas specifically has risks from neither Louisiana nor Mississippi seem to being doing anything on their planed sections either.

I doubt we’re gonna see I-69 completed in our lifetimes. I’m gonna be surprised if they can even complete I-49. Depending on how strong the environmentalist come out against it, they might have to offer for building one of the longest road tunnels in the entire country. Unless the government comes out with an initiative to build interstates like they did before I don’t think Arkansas is going to get a lot of what they want completed. They also have I-57 under their belt as well.

I think a Springdale bypass has a decent chance of being constructed within the next decade or two.

Arkansas DOT does have a lot on their plate.

“It's hard to imagine some of this when you think it's gonna be 20 to 30 years until all this is done. Just think about how Interstate 49 came to be," said Parker. "Sure, it's going to take a long time, but you have to start somewhere.”

- https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=29375.msg2877947;topicseen#msg2877 947

There’s also a spur north of Tonitown it can and likely will tie into. ArDOT already has plans to redo that interchange at I-49. I’d be willing to bet they find a way to expedite this project.

Here’s the link for that interchange: https://www.ardot.gov/wp-content/uploads/090621Design.pdf

ARDOTs seems to have too many interstate plans for their budget. They just recently finished connecting I-49 to Missouri after a surprising amount of delays, they still have at least 150 of miles to connect I-49 from Ft Smith to Texarkana. There is this project, which is probably at least 20 miles to the Oklahoma boarder. Then they also have around 100 miles of I-69, with another few dozen so a spur will connect that to Little Rock.

Given ODOT/OTA seem to be going forward on this, it potentially is the most impact and lowest overall cost for them. However with I-49 just being finished in NW Arkansas, it may be difficult getting political will from other areas to have another major project to the same area. Though it seems like it is probably better to think of it as north of Siloam Springs than through it, as the spur they have of I-49 has been referenced as the planned destination, which seems positioned well to serve both for a bypass of Siloam Springs and possibly also improving the connection to their regional airport.


It can also be argued that NW Arkansas is badly underserved with interstate highways. NW Arkansas now has almost 600k people and is the growth engine of the whole state. Sometime in the next 10-16 years NW Arkansas will pass Little Rock as the states largest metro. They NEED the this highway, badly. Going east/west there is a nightmare.

There’s also a spur north of Tonitown it can and likely will tie into. ArDOT already has plans to redo that interchange at I-49. I’d be willing to bet they find a way to expedite this project.

the spur that is north of tonitown (612 ) the next phase (before the east side project that you linked) is on the west side from existing 412 up to the 612 spur ..

https://www.ardot.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/001966_2008.05.25_DPH_Disp_Cou.pdf

https://www.ardot.gov/divisions/environmental/assessments/impact-statements-eis-assesments-ea/springdale-northern-bypass-highway-412/

the spur that is north of tonitown (612 ) the next phase (before the east side project that you linked) is on the west side from existing 412 up to the 612 spur ..

https://www.ardot.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/001966_2008.05.25_DPH_Disp_Cou.pdf

https://www.ardot.gov/divisions/environmental/assessments/impact-statements-eis-assesments-ea/springdale-northern-bypass-highway-412/
Correct I mentioned it because it appears ArDOT has plans to expand that facility even further east at some point.

Correct I mentioned it because it appears ArDOT has plans to expand that facility even further east at some point.

612 by pass is going to reconnect with 412 right before the lake

612 by pass is going to reconnect with 412 right before the lake
Correct which is why I think it’ll tie in with a Siloam Springs Bypass. There’s the airport XNA connector project as well in the area.

Correct which is why I think it’ll tie in with a Siloam Springs Bypass. There’s the airport XNA connector project as well in the area.

i don't think so I think you can expect the main line the new interstate going west from 49 to be 612 until in connects with 412 (around highway 68 and 412 ) then 412 be full interstate for 10 miles or so until it connects to the future siloam bypass some where east of siloam springs ..

i don't think so I think you can expect the main line the new interstate going west from 49 to be 612 until in connects with 412 (around highway 68 and 412 ) then 412 be full interstate for 10 miles or so until it connects to the future siloam bypass some where east of siloam springs ..
Here’s a new article which sheds some light and gives somewhat of a timeline: https://www.4029tv.com/article/bids-open-to-build-next-phase-of-northern-springdale-bypass/45727996#

Plans for the Springdale bypass

18432

Plans for the Springdale bypass

18432

and all but the eastern 6 miles or so of this is fully funded and the bids are either already approved or out for bid

and all but the eastern 6 miles or so of this is fully funded and the bids are either already approved or out for bid
Good note but I believe they own the ROW.

I believe ODOT will build it as a free to use freeway and not an extension of the existing turnpike(on the the OK side obviously) but I’m not sure.

It seems a little odd they are shifting this south to the existing 412 near Tontitown, given a few miles west of this they are going to need to then go around Siloam Springs, when it would be basically a strait line west from the existing part built to go past Siloam Springs. Plus anything this saves in new highway miles added, probably gets offset in complications during construction, as the road will likely be kept open while doing upgraded between those two cities.

It seems a little odd they are shifting this south to the existing 412 near Tontitown, given a few miles west of this they are going to need to then go around Siloam Springs, when it would be basically a strait line west from the existing part built to go past Siloam Springs. Plus anything this saves in new highway miles added, probably gets offset in complications during construction, as the road will likely be kept open while doing upgraded between those two cities.

it is 10 full miles that is a lot of ROW to acquire for one reason

and it is really not that much out of the way

it is 10 full miles that is a lot of ROW to acquire for one reason

and it is really not that much out of the way

They are acquiring around half of that with the shift down and around, and land they acquire around the existing 412 is probably worth more than farmland north of it.

They are acquiring around half of that with the shift down and around, and land they acquire around the existing 412 is probably worth more than farmland north of it.

going south back to 412 costs them about a mile +/- of "extra" ROW "

also that part of the project is actually funded and is starting .. (and is needed now)

The feds have approved this as Interstate-42.

The extension of AR-612 to US-412 just east of Siloam Springs is under construction with an estimated completion date of Aug '26.

Also construction has started in Catoosa on the US-412, OK-66, I-44 interchange. Estimated completion, summer '26.

Arkansas still hasn’t funded the Siloam bypass though

https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/imports/adg/photos/207477482_05XX24-NW-412-HEARING_t800.jpg?90232451fbcadccc64a17de7521d859a8 f88077d

Arkansas still hasn’t funded the Siloam bypass though

https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/imports/adg/photos/207477482_05XX24-NW-412-HEARING_t800.jpg?90232451fbcadccc64a17de7521d859a8 f88077d

Have they even chosen a route for it?

^^^^^^^^
As mentioned in the graphic, they are looking to convert existing highway alignment into interstate. No new route to be chosen; the route already exists.

^^^^^^^^
As mentioned in the graphic, they are looking to convert existing highway alignment into interstate. No new route to be chosen; the route already exists.

I think they are talking about the siloam bypass specifically

Ah, makes sense. But wasn’t mentioned in that specific post.

I think they are talking about the siloam bypass specifically

Correct. They are still trying to determine if it will be a north or south bypass.

Correct. They are still trying to determine if it will be a north or south bypass.

As a person who has traveled that route on HWY 412 for almost 35 years, come on Northwest Arkansas get it together. You've had years to plan this.

That area has been consistently gaining population (doubled since 1990) and very little has been done on the Arkansas side to divert traffic around Siloam Springs to the east side of Springdale in the last three decades. Almost 600,000 people are in Northwest Arkansas and the area will probably overtake Little Rock's MSA as Walmart and other companies continue to grow.

On the Oklahoma side, the Cherokee Turnpike was authorized in 1987, and opened in 1991 with 35 or so miles.

Ideally this route would go all the way to Harrison linking up just to the west of Harrison and Highway 65, it would then allow a solid route to Branson/Springfield Missouri.

Also new convenient access to that new amusment park they're building out in NE OK.

--being built like 100% for sure.

Ideally this route would go all the way to Harrison linking up just to the west of Harrison and Highway 65, it would then allow a solid route to Branson/Springfield Missouri.

Topography gets significantly more challenging as you head east of Springdale. I-42 will definitely make that route to Table Rock/Branson easier though.

Ideally this route would go all the way to Harrison linking up just to the west of Harrison and Highway 65, it would then allow a solid route to Branson/Springfield Missouri.

currently this will end with the springdale bypass ... reconnecting with 412 just west of the lake (east of sonora) ...

seems like it would be pretty easy to upgrade 412 for an additional .. 15 miles or so to just north of huntsville .. but after that you would need significantly more funding ..

currently this will end with the springdale bypass ... reconnecting with 412 just west of the lake (east of sonora) ...

seems like it would be pretty easy to upgrade 412 for an additional .. 15 miles or so to just north of huntsville .. but after that you would need significantly more funding ..

Unfortunately, yes.

We use to go this way a lot to get to Table Rock Lake, and grew tired of the two lane roads and traffic from that Arkansas State line to east Springdale. For now, we just Take I-44 all the way to Springfield, MO and drop south on HWY 65. It adds miles and can add time depending on traffic, but at least all 4 lane.

I don't know how much of a pull or need Walmart Corporate has for traffic coming from the east, or if XNA is their primary route for traffic coming in and out of Bentonville.

What are the chances that this could be pushed West in the future. Other than a Enid bypass. Most of the highway would only need bridges built out to about Ringwood. Where there is a large portion of the highway that we need to be upgraded with a possible bypass near gloss mountain State Park, Woodward guymon and Boise City would also need bypasses. It would be ideal to see it terminate in Clayton with i-27 or with I-25 in Raton

What are the chances that this could be pushed West in the future. Other than a Enid bypass. Most of the highway would only need bridges built out to about Ringwood. Where there is a large portion of the highway that we need to be upgraded with a possible bypass near gloss mountain State Park, Woodward guymon and Boise City would also need bypasses. It would be ideal to see it terminate in Clayton with i-27 or with I-25 in Raton

I don't think demand is there, very sparse population as you can travel HWY 412 in the panhandle and not see another vehicle for a few miles, and it would be hard to argue major traffic heading west isn't already using I-40 or I-70. Interstates typically connect to major population centers, in this case past Enid, there isn't another community above 20,000 all the way to Raton.

As for the New Mexico side, we traveled this route from Clayton to Raton this past year to get to Colorado, it's 4 lane divided, limited access most of the way, and much like the panhandle, lightly traveled.

I don't think demand is there, very sparse population as you can travel HWY 412 in the panhandle and not see another vehicle for a few miles, and it would be hard to argue major traffic heading west isn't already using I-40 or I-70. Interstates typically connect to major population centers, in this case past Enid, there isn't another community above 20,000 all the way to Raton.

As for the New Mexico side, we traveled this route from Clayton to Raton this past year to get to Colorado, it's 4 lane divided, limited access most of the way, and much like the panhandle, lightly traveled.
You typically don't have to go all the way to I-25 to get to Colorado. You technically could go to Boise City then heading north on 385 for a few miles

You typically don't have to go all the way to I-25 to get to Colorado. You technically could go to Boise City then heading north on 385 for a few miles

True, from the times we have traveled out that way, with the new-ish bypass around Boise City there is a significant amount of semi traffic on 287/385, I am guessing coming from Amarillo?

True, from the times we have traveled out that way, with the new-ish bypass around Boise City there is a significant amount of semi traffic on 287/385, I am guessing coming from Amarillo?

Yes. Semi's take that route instead of through New Mexico to Raton. Colorado has built many new passing lane segments from north of Boise City to Lymon.