Last year Jim Inhoff on his way out of office passed a bill to authorize upgrading US-412 to an Interstate from I-35 to I-49 in Arkansas to connect Tulsa and NW Arkansas. I thought this would take a long time, but Oklahoma is actually doing this pretty much now with federal money.

The largest section of the highway in Oklahoma from I-35 to Catoosa is Interstate quality now with one exception and could be signed at any time. The one exception is an at grade road called Diamond Head Rd by Lake Keystone. An interchange for that road is scheduled to be built in 2029.

The part of the highway from Catoosa to the Cherokee Turnpike is where the road needs big upgrades. My assumption was this would take decades, but Oklahoma got a federal grant and is doing it now, all at once:
https://oklahoma.gov/odot/progress-and-performance/federal-grant-awards/mpdg-grants/mpdg-2022/us-412_priority_improvements_for_interstate_designati on.html

$139 million for improvements. 8 new interchanges and six more new bridges. Design work is underway now with construction set to start in mid 2025 and be done by 2028.

When the Arkansas side could be connected at Siloam Springs is another question, but Tulsa could be ready for a new Interstate designation within five years or so.

Last year Jim Inhoff on his way out of office passed a bill to authorize upgrading US-412 to an Interstate from I-35 to I-49 in Arkansas to connect Tulsa and NW Arkansas. I thought this would take a long time, but Oklahoma is actually doing this pretty much now with federal money.

The largest section of the highway in Oklahoma from I-35 to Catoosa is Interstate quality now with one exception and could be signed at any time. The one exception is an at grade road called Diamond Head Rd by Lake Keystone. An interchange for that road is scheduled to be built in 2029.

The part of the highway from Catoosa to the Cherokee Turnpike is where the road needs big upgrades. My assumption was this would take decades, but Oklahoma got a federal grant and is doing it now, all at once:
https://oklahoma.gov/odot/progress-and-performance/federal-grant-awards/mpdg-grants/mpdg-2022/us-412_priority_improvements_for_interstate_designati on.html

$139 million for improvements. 8 new interchanges and six more new bridges. Design work is underway now with construction set to start in mid 2025 and be done by 2028.

When the Arkansas side could be connected at Siloam Springs is another question, but Tulsa could be ready for a new Interstate designation within five years or so.

i don't believe it can be signed as an interstate until both ends connect to an interstate

i don't believe it can be signed as an interstate until both ends connect to an interstate

Check out Interstate 27 in Texas. It starts in Amarillo and ends at Lubbock. There is no connection to another interstate in Lubbock and ends there.

Check out Interstate 27 in Texas. It starts in Amarillo and ends at Lubbock. There is no connection to another interstate in Lubbock and ends there.

I-44 is the same, ending by itself in Wichita Falls.

As for 412, assuming it gets interstate status within the next decade, I assume OTA will still have control and collect tolls over the Cherokee and Cimarron Turnpike portions much like HE Bailey, Will Rogers and Turner Turnpikes that are signed with Interstate 44?

I-44 is the same, ending by itself in Wichita Falls.

As for 412, assuming it gets interstate status within the next decade, I assume OTA will still have control and collect tolls over the Cherokee and Cimarron Turnpike portions much like HE Bailey, Will Rogers and Turner Turnpikes that are signed with Interstate 44?

There's a floating four mile long section of I-49 on the south side of Ft Smith not connected to any other highway, interstate or not. It's very strange, but it is signed.

As for the turnpikes, of course they will be part of the new interstate. I'm pretty sure that there's a state law that all major highways in and out of Tulsa connecting to the outside world have to be tolled at some point.

Good use of the Mega Grant funds.

Signs put up in Tulsa over the last year or so have been showing "Springdale" as a destination instead of "Siloam Springs" and this is why.

According to the system for assigning Interstate numbers, this road can get any even number between 46 and 62 inclusive (although 48, 60, and 62 are less likely due to nearby existing highways with the same number). There is even a chance it could even get the prestigious numbers 50 or 60 (numbers ending in 0 tend to be longer, more major routes; 50 and 60 were never assigned because they would have ended up too close to the US routes with those numbers).

Check out Interstate 27 in Texas. It starts in Amarillo and ends at Lubbock. There is no connection to another interstate in Lubbock and ends there.

Correct! And I believe they want to extend 27 to Midland, where it will meet up with I-20.

i don't believe it can be signed as an interstate until both ends connect to an interstate

If it connects to another interstate on one side or both generally effects which number it will be designated, granted there are exceptions, likely where it got extended years after the number was designated. Plus looking at i49 or i69 seem fine to sign segments long before the entire route is completed.

Correct! And I believe they want to extend 27 to Midland, where it will meet up with I-20.

There was talk of an interstate from Midland to Lubbock back in the 80s and 90s in Midland when I was a kid. I27 between AMA and LBB has been there for a very long time. As it is now, the local highways that run between the two are four lane -- parts with a median and parts with a middle turn lane all the way down. I think the latest news is that I27 corridor will be extend from Amarillo to Raton, NM, and then from Lubbock down to Laredo.

Check out Interstate 27 in Texas. It starts in Amarillo and ends at Lubbock. There is no connection to another interstate in Lubbock and ends there.

my bad i misunderstood / didn't remember correctly from I22 Birmingham to Memphis
from that it looks like once the Oklahoma site is interstate standard they can brand it all the way to the ark border .. and then when ark does their side they can brand their side as well ..

Signs put up in Tulsa over the last year or so have been showing "Springdale" as a destination instead of "Siloam Springs" and this is why.

According to the system for assigning Interstate numbers, this road can get any even number between 46 and 62 inclusive (although 48, 60, and 62 are less likely due to nearby existing highways with the same number). There is even a chance it could even get the prestigious numbers 50 or 60 (numbers ending in 0 tend to be longer, more major routes; 50 and 60 were never assigned because they would have ended up too close to the US routes with those numbers).

it will be strange to have a 46 or 48 south of I 44 i see where north carolina just took I 42 off the board

Great news that OK will upgrade US-412 in interstate standards over the next several years! Unfortunately, the major congestion is in Siloam Springs and Springdale/Tontitown Arkansas and there are no plans in the immediate future for an Arkansas upgrade. The quote below is from the Arkansas Democratic Gazette in Feb '22.

"A bypass is being considered around Siloam Springs as part of the U.S. 412 study. The current alignment runs through the city. In Oklahoma, the route likely would follow the current U.S. 412 route through the Tulsa metro area.
The interstate project is not part of the long-term transportation plans for either state and Arkansas already has plenty of projects either ready to go or planned, according to Arkansas Highway Commissioner Philip Taldo.
"The actual concept itself, I think it's a great concept," Taldo said. "I think it's good for both Oklahoma and Arkansas, but we're just heavy on good projects right now."
He said implementing the concept could take a while.
"The only way we can really identify the scope or cost is, it has to be studied," Taldo said. "We were really clear to them that they're at the back of the line as far as funding for Arkansas projects because we've got 20 years' worth of projects already queued up, not the least of which is I-49. It's going to have to take its place behind these projects that have been waiting for a long time."
The Arkansas Department of Transportation is planning to break ground this fall on a project to extend I-49 in Arkansas another 13 miles south across the River Valley, building a section of interstate from Arkansas 22 near Barling in Sebastian County to the interchange of Interstate 40 and I-49 at Alma in Crawford County."

i don't believe it can be signed as an interstate until both ends connect to an interstate

The normal approval process does strongly prefer this; however, as this is a Congressionally-designated corridor, none of the normal rules apply. In similar cases, such as I-69, the project is broken into "segments of independent utility". Each of these is a segment of road that would be useful on its own. Generally, as each SIU is finished, the shields go up, even when they don't connect to other interstates or even one another.


it will be strange to have a 46 or 48 south of I 44 i see where north carolina just took I 42 off the board

Yes, unfortunately, because I-44 will cross the path of US-412, at least half of the route will be "out of grid". ODOT and ARDOT could theoretically ask for a second I-42 (there are two each of 76, 84, 86, 87, 88), there are so many other available numbers it would be better to just pick one of those. Personally, I'm hoping for I-50.

It might end up bring something like I-344. See I-385 in South Carolina or 575 and 985 in Atlanta metro.

Great news that OK will upgrade US-412 in interstate standards over the next several years! Unfortunately, the major congestion is in Siloam Springs and Springdale/Tontitown Arkansas and there are no plans in the immediate future for an Arkansas upgrade. The quote below is from the Arkansas Democratic Gazette in Feb '22.

"A bypass is being considered around Siloam Springs as part of the U.S. 412 study. The current alignment runs through the city. In Oklahoma, the route likely would follow the current U.S. 412 route through the Tulsa metro area.
The interstate project is not part of the long-term transportation plans for either state and Arkansas already has plenty of projects either ready to go or planned, according to Arkansas Highway Commissioner Philip Taldo.
"The actual concept itself, I think it's a great concept," Taldo said. "I think it's good for both Oklahoma and Arkansas, but we're just heavy on good projects right now."
He said implementing the concept could take a while.
"The only way we can really identify the scope or cost is, it has to be studied," Taldo said. "We were really clear to them that they're at the back of the line as far as funding for Arkansas projects because we've got 20 years' worth of projects already queued up, not the least of which is I-49. It's going to have to take its place behind these projects that have been waiting for a long time."
The Arkansas Department of Transportation is planning to break ground this fall on a project to extend I-49 in Arkansas another 13 miles south across the River Valley, building a section of interstate from Arkansas 22 near Barling in Sebastian County to the interchange of Interstate 40 and I-49 at Alma in Crawford County."

Frustrating that Arkansas doesn't see this as a priority. IT's 20 MILES from the border to the existing I-49 in Springdale. This essentially connects Oklahoma's 2nd Largest Metro, Tulsa, to Arkansas's 2nd Largest metro (Fayetteville/NWA), it would benefit commerce both ways with Walmart and U of A on the Arkansas side, and Tulsa on the other. From a percentage stand point, Oklahoma has done the heavy lifting with 70 miles from border to I-44 in Tulsa, compared to Arkansas's needed 20 miles. Outside of Little Rock, what other projects would take priority over this one? Anyone who has traveled on 412 through NWA knows how difficult it is going east-west as soon as you hit the state line.

The normal approval process does strongly prefer this; however, as this is a Congressionally-designated corridor, none of the normal rules apply. In similar cases, such as I-69, the project is broken into "segments of independent utility". Each of these is a segment of road that would be useful on its own. Generally, as each SIU is finished, the shields go up, even when they don't connect to other interstates or even one another.



Yes, unfortunately, because I-44 will cross the path of US-412, at least half of the route will be "out of grid". ODOT and ARDOT could theoretically ask for a second I-42 (there are two each of 76, 84, 86, 87, 88), there are so many other available numbers it would be better to just pick one of those. Personally, I'm hoping for I-50.

thank you for the info .. a second I42 really does seem to make the most sense ..

Frustrating that Arkansas doesn't see this as a priority. IT's 20 MILES from the border to the existing I-49 in Springdale. This essentially connects Oklahoma's 2nd Largest Metro, Tulsa, to Arkansas's 2nd Largest metro (Fayetteville/NWA), it would benefit commerce both ways with Walmart and U of A on the Arkansas side, and Tulsa on the other. From a percentage stand point, Oklahoma has done the heavy lifting with 70 miles from border to I-44 in Tulsa, compared to Arkansas's needed 20 miles. Outside of Little Rock, what other projects would take priority over this one? Anyone who has traveled on 412 through NWA knows how difficult it is going east-west as soon as you hit the state line.
they have been trying to finish I49 for a long long time and this next 13 mile phase is a huge deal as it includes a bridge across the arkansas river

they have been trying to finish I49 for a long long time and this next 13 mile phase is a huge deal as it includes a bridge across the arkansas river

It's hard to see how connecting Texarkana and Ft Smith could be a higher priority than Tulsa and NW Arkansas. Especially since in the next 10-20 years NW Arkansas will have more people than metro Little Rock.

It's hard to see how connecting Texarkana and Ft Smith could be a higher priority than Tulsa and NW Arkansas. Especially since in the next 10-20 years NW Arkansas will have more people than metro Little Rock.

The AR state government would rather promote LR than try to improve commerce for NWA.

I-49 is not just Texarkana to Ft. Smith it is the last gap of a New Orleans to Kansas City route. In addition to I-49, AR also has authorizations for I-57 from Little Rock to southeast MO and I-69 from near Memphis to Shreveport.

https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/imports/adg/photos/200587605_013022-HIGHWAY-412-INTERSTATE-DESIGNATION_t800.jpg?90232451fbcadccc64a17de7521d8 59a8f88077d

The new section of I-49 will be 13.6 miles long and cost an estimated $787 million. It requires a new bridge over the Arkansas River expected to cost $300 million to $400 million. The work is expected to be done in several phases.--Northwest Arkansas Democrat, February 7, 2022

Project: $787 million - 13.6 miles long

https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/imports/adg/photos/200587605_013022-HIGHWAY-412-INTERSTATE-DESIGNATION_t800.jpg?90232451fbcadccc64a17de7521d8 59a8f88077d

The new section of I-49 will be 13.6 miles long and cost an estimated $787 million. It requires a new bridge over the Arkansas River expected to cost $300 million to $400 million. The work is expected to be done in several phases.--Northwest Arkansas Democrat, February 7, 2022

Project: $787 million - 13.6 miles long



The NW Arkansas - Tulsa interstate in your graphic is not I-49. Two different highways.

It might end up bring something like I-344. See I-385 in South Carolina or 575 and 985 in Atlanta metro.

Extremely unlikely—the longest three-digit route in the system is I-476, which is 129 miles long. Perry to Springdale is roughly 181 miles.

Because the major routes get two-digit numbers, politicians generally prefer them for what essentially boils down to marketing reasons.

I-50 makes the most sense since US 50 does not go through AR or OK. Hopefully one day I-45 will be extended north from Dallas to Tulsa and take the place of US 69/75

Extremely unlikely—the longest three-digit route in the system is I-476, which is 129 miles long. Perry to Springdale is roughly 181 miles.

Because the major routes get two-digit numbers, politicians generally prefer them for what essentially boils down to marketing reasons.

If it went all the way to Perry then a single 3 digit designation wouldn't make sense, but a 335 to Perry and a 344 to Arkansas would

If it went all the way to Perry then a single 3 digit designation wouldn't make sense, but a 335 to Perry and a 344 to Arkansas would

Might as well push it all the way to Enid, or have a spur to Enid with 50k people and Vance AFB.

https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/imports/adg/photos/200587605_013022-HIGHWAY-412-INTERSTATE-DESIGNATION_t800.jpg?90232451fbcadccc64a17de7521d8 59a8f88077d

The new section of I-49 will be 13.6 miles long and cost an estimated $787 million. It requires a new bridge over the Arkansas River expected to cost $300 million to $400 million. The work is expected to be done in several phases.--Northwest Arkansas Democrat, February 7, 2022

Project: $787 million - 13.6 miles long




This is likely the I-49 on the East side of Fort Smith, AR, extending from like Greenwood, AR to Alma, AR where it will connect in with I-49 heading North to Fayetteville. They have the portion in Greenwood/Fort Chaffee done - and it has been for quite a few years now. It is the oddest / most awkward thing to drive right now, it is an Interstate that is only a couple miles long and seems to start and end nowhere.

No, I-49 is working its way up to Kansas City.

No, I-49 is working its way up to Kansas City.

I-49 replaced US 71 from Joplin to Kansas City. The stretch between Texarkana and Fort Smith needs a LOT of work and will be very expensive due to the rough terrain. I don’t see I-49 being “finished” for decades.

49 is great from Texarkana all the way south through Louisiana. We take this route to BTR instead of the old way through Dallas and it's a heck of a lot easier. One they finished between TXK and SHV, we started taking 40 east to the Indian Nation south to Paris then over 82 to 49. No fighting on 35 and no battling the trucks on 20. Traffic on 49 is so light you can pretty much travel on cruise control all the way down to Lafayette and north of SHV I've often wondered if it really was necessary because you may not see another vehicle for 10 minutes at a time.

49 is great from Texarkana all the way south through Louisiana. We take this route to BTR instead of the old way through Dallas and it's a heck of a lot easier. One they finished between TXK and SHV, we started taking 40 east to the Indian Nation south to Paris then over 82 to 49. No fighting on 35 and no battling the trucks on 20. Traffic on 49 is so light you can pretty much travel on cruise control all the way down to Lafayette and north of SHV I've often wondered if it really was necessary because you may not see another vehicle for 10 minutes at a time.

Sounds like the Indian Nation Turnpike. Very scenic though, I bet it was expensive to build through the mountains.

If you've never been take Hwy 1 from Alexandria to Baton Rouge. It winds around oxbow lakes and swampland and there's a cool bridge over the Atchafalaya River. Good hole-in-the-wall Cajun restaurants in some of the small towns too.

^^
Oh absolutely! My dad is from Alexandria and we frequented BTR from west Texas to see family while I was growing up. I remember taking HWY 1 from SHV all the way down -- a teeny tiny 2-lane for the majority of it and people fishing for crawfish in the ditches just inches from the highway! I remember I was 15 when they opened a big portion of 49 between SHV and AEX because I had just received my learners permit and I was able to drive the family on it.

Agree on the food options! Try Lea's Lunchroom in LeCompte if you haven't. Though not cajun, it has some of the best ham and cheese sandwiches and homemade pies. My grandpa is in numerous pictures on the wall with Mr. Lea.

Open house with a survey on June 6th


Description
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) are initiating a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study of U.S. 412. The study is being performed in coordination with the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The PEL Study limits are from I-35 in Noble County, Oklahoma to I-49 in Benton County, Arkansas, a distance of 190 miles. The overarching goal is to develop a master plan to support the transition from a U.S. Highway to an interstate, in accordance with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
ODOT and ARDOT anticipate incorporating recommendations made as part of the PEL Study into future National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) studies, per Title 23 of the U.S. Code, Part 168.

- https://oklahoma.gov/odot/programs-and-projects0/public-meetings-and-hearings0/public-meetings-and-hearings/20230606.html

Stumbled upon this topic and I am stoked. I commute every week between OKC and our farm in McDonald's County on the Missouri side of the border from Bella Vista and Bentonville and this could theoretically save me a chunk of time compared to taking 60 through Fairland and Seneca.

It's been mentioned but Arkansas has the most work to do to make this a reality. The Cimarron Turnpike and 412 is already mostly "interstate-grade" from I-35 through Tulsa. There are a handful of interchanges that need to be rebuilt east of the Creek Turnpike and then the Cherokee Turnpike is mostly "interstate-grade" from the Neosho River to just west of the AR state line. Arkansas needs to rebuild the highway around Siloam Springs and through Springdale to connect to I-49.

I 50 Maybe i am thinking I-48

I wish it would be I-50. An I-50 interstate from I-49 all the way to I-25 would be amazing. One can dream.

I wish it would be I-50. An I-50 interstate from I-49 all the way to I-25 would be amazing. One can dream.

While dreaming add an extension of I-45 from Dallas to Tulsa to take the place of 75/69 (and bypasses Atoka, Henryetta and Okmulgee)

It's been mentioned but Arkansas has the most work to do to make this a reality. The Cimarron Turnpike and 412 is already mostly "interstate-grade" from I-35 through Tulsa. There are a handful of interchanges that need to be rebuilt east of the Creek Turnpike and then the Cherokee Turnpike is mostly "interstate-grade" from the Neosho River to just west of the AR state line. Arkansas needs to rebuild the highway around Siloam Springs and through Springdale to connect to I-49.

Here's the plan for the upgrades between Tulsa and the Cimarron Turnpike:
https://oklahoma.gov/odot/progress-and-performance/federal-grant-awards/mpdg-grants/mpdg-2022/us-412_priority_improvements_for_interstate_designati on.html

The total budget is $130 million of which $84 million is from a Federal INFRA/MEGA Grant. The project is under design now. Construction is set to start in mid 2025 and be completed by the end of 2028.

This will not include the section in Oklahoma from the end of the Cimarron to the Arkansas state line in Siloam Springs. I assume that little section will be an extension of the turnpike, but it will required a highway to connect with on the Arkansas side, which is likely a long way off, unless Arkansas starts allowing Turnpikes.

While dreaming add an extension of I-45 from Dallas to Tulsa to take the place of 75/69 (and bypasses Atoka, Henryetta and Okmulgee)

Yeah, that would be great, and would reduce traffic on I-35, speed the trip from Dallas to Tulsa (and I-44) and just make good sense. But it would cost way over a billion dollars, if not billions of dollars to upgrade US-75/69. The state really royally screwed up with the Indian Nations Turnpike going to Atoka instead of Durant.

While dreaming add an extension of I-45 from Dallas to Tulsa to take the place of 75/69 (and bypasses Atoka, Henryetta and Okmulgee)
Yeah that would be ideal as well.

I also wish the soon to be interstate on the 412 would be toll free.

Yeah that would be ideal as well.

I also wish the soon to be interstate on the 412 would be toll free.

Keep wishing.

Pretty much all of I-44 in Oklahoma remains a turnpike with the interstate designation. Turner, H.E. Bailey, and Will Rogers.

A good chunk of I-35 in Kansas is on the Kansas Turnpike too.

This should extend east of NWA through Northark to Jonesboro generally following US 412 and tie into I-55 near Jonesboro as an extension of I-22.

This should extend east of NWA through Northark to Jonesboro generally following US 412 and tie into I-55 near Jonesboro as an extension of I-22.

That is the long-term plan, but I-49 is the priority for Arkansas DOT to finish first. Problem is the I-49 segment south of Fort Smith is VERY expensive to finish and the terrain east of Springdale for 412 to connect into Jonesboro is not an easier/cheaper to build through. I-40 needs an alternative route to and Memphis needs another bridge across the Mississippi. It would make sense to have a northern route around Memphis across the Mississippi that would hook into the Jonesboro extension that connects to NWA > Tulsa > I-35. Could even bring down a connection from the I-55/57/69 mess in Southwest Missouri/West Kentucky and hook into a new east-west interstate that could be a reliever from traffic coming from Ohio River Valley as well. Problem is always funding though. Likely will never happen in the next 20-30 years unless Congress ever starts taking infrastructure more seriously.

If we’re talking a wishlist boy do I have a post to make about interstates I’d like to see and will post in a bit.

I wish it would be I-50. An I-50 interstate from I-49 all the way to I-25 would be amazing. One can dream.

There will never be an I-50 because of it would be located to close to US 50 which violates their numbering requiements.

There will never be an I-50 because of it would be located to close to US 50 which violates their numbering requiements.

i mean it just takes the Federal Highway Administration to approve it. so I wouldn't say it will never be. That was the position held by the FWA at the time of the initial building of the Interstate System. but there is no law that prevents it.

i mean it just takes the Federal Highway Administration to approve it. so I wouldn't say it will never be. That was the position held by the FWA at the time of the initial building of the Interstate System. but there is no law that prevents it.
Yep. But unfortunately the reality is it is unlikely it will be I-50.

My plan would run this hypothetical intestate from I-55 all the way to an extended I-17 from Flagstaff to I-70 with a tunnel under Moab. The tunnel is sorely needed as Moab is packed with semis and UTVs along with tons of pedestrians on 191 downtown.

I-50 would roughly follow US-412 to I-25 running concurrent I-25 down to Bernalillo. To make it somewhat realistic it would have to run concurrent and follow US-550 to around Farmington somehow worming around to an extended I-17 around Monticello.

And yes, I’m aware we’ll probably have interstates on Mars before this plan but as someone who travels this area sometimes several times a month it is needed. Especially in the summer when traffic can get packed and annoying in northern Arizona and Utah.

The new number of this interstate is 95% official and will be I-42. That's been the official request from Oklahoma DOT, Arkansas DOT, Regional chambers, etc. to USDOT/Federal Highway Admin. It aligns with 412 as well, you're just removing the 1 lol.

Arkansas DOT has done feasibility studies of 412 from Springdale to Jonesboro so it is on their radar to extend the corridor and connect it into Memphis eventually. That is a long, long way down the road though - just not the funding for it and I-49 is the priority for rural area construction projects outside of NWA & Little Rock priority projects.

^^^ where has that been published? First time hearing about anything official regarding the number.

That is the long-term plan, but I-49 is the priority for Arkansas DOT to finish first. Problem is the I-49 segment south of Fort Smith is VERY expensive to finish and the terrain east of Springdale for 412 to connect into Jonesboro is not an easier/cheaper to build through. I-40 needs an alternative route to and Memphis needs another bridge across the Mississippi. It would make sense to have a northern route around Memphis across the Mississippi that would hook into the Jonesboro extension that connects to NWA > Tulsa > I-35. Could even bring down a connection from the I-55/57/69 mess in Southwest Missouri/West Kentucky and hook into a new east-west interstate that could be a reliever from traffic coming from Ohio River Valley as well. Problem is always funding though. Likely will never happen in the next 20-30 years unless Congress ever starts taking infrastructure more seriously.

Interesting, that definitely opens up and provides more connections to NWA and NE OK. I can see why the region is pushing for the east-west interstate since it currently lacks one.

^^^ where has that been published? First time hearing about anything official regarding the number.

Not published anywhere - I'm aware of it through personal conversations with chamber, mayors office staff, etc. It's not really a secret what they want and USDOT/FHWA typically accepts requests like that, doesn't mean that's what they'll approve. The idea on I-42 is that is aligned with 412 (just no 1 anymore) and would be the easiest 'rebranding' of the corridor. I personally would rather have a different number that's not as close to I-44. Like someone else said I-50 would be great but would likely never happen unfortunately. It's certainly too short of a segment to warrant something like I-50 too.

There will never be an I-50 because of it would be located to close to US 50 which violates their numbering requiements.

Interstate 41/US 41, Interstate 74/US 74, etc.

The only state that has both US-412 and US-50 is Missouri, and that's just because 412 crosses the Bootheel for a couple dozen miles. That part of 412 isn't part of the proposed Interstate, anyway.

I-45 in Texas has a major interstate designation and is only about 300 miles long, so don’t rule out the I-50 name based on length.

A fair number of two-digit interstates are under 200 miles in length, with quite a few under 100 miles.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Interstate_Highways

ODOT is conducting a public meeting on 6/6 in downtown Tulsa on the 412 upgrade.

https://tulsaworld.com/news/community/sand-springs/public-hearing-planned-on-converting-u-s-412-to-interstate-highway/article_63c2e646-fcc0-11ed-8301-5f36c1abc3b1.html

Project docs will be posted here on 6/7:
http://odot.org/US412interstateDesignationStudy

Reminder: public meeting is today at 4:30 in Tulsa:

Cyntergy Community Space, 1st Floor
810 S. Cincinnati Avenue
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119

https://oklahoma.gov/odot/programs-and-projects0/public-meetings-and-hearings0/public-meetings-and-hearings/20230606.html

According to another poster from AARoads they spoke with an ODOT who said that this project will include an interchange at US-69 that will be designed to be compatible with a future I-45 extension. That’s pretty exciting.

Edit: I meant US-75.

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