Arkansas leaders and transportation officials will gather Thursday, Nov. 7, in Beebe to celebrate the official designation of portions of U.S. Highway 67 as part of Interstate 57.
The event, open to the public, will take place at 1 p.m. in the W.H. Owen Jr. Center Centennial Bank Gymnasium on the Arkansas State University-Beebe campus.
The designation marks a major milestone for regional infrastructure, converting 110 miles of U.S. Highway 67 to Interstate 57 between North Little Rock and Walnut Ridge. Ultimately, this project will link Arkansas to the north-south Interstate 57 corridor, which currently spans 400 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Sikeston, Missouri.
Officials say the completed route will improve mobility and enhance economic opportunities throughout the region.
“This designation is the culmination of years of collaboration, planning, and perseverance,” said Lorie Tudor, director of the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT). “This designation is great news for commerce in Arkansas as it increases mobility between the south-central United States and the Midwest. We are extremely proud of this milestone and are grateful to all our partners who helped make it happen.”
The 240-mile stretch from North Little Rock to Sikeston has been identified as a “High Priority Corridor,” laying the groundwork for its transition to an interstate route. Funding has already been allocated for additional construction between Walnut Ridge and the Missouri State Line.
Arkansas Highway Commission Chairman Alec Farmer emphasized the project’s economic implications.
“Designating the sections of U.S. Highway 67 that already meet Interstate standards as Interstate 57 highlights this route and the cities and counties along this route for economic growth and job creation,” he said.
Farmer added that the completed Interstate 57 would help reduce truck congestion on key routes like Interstate 40 between West Memphis and Little Rock and Interstate 55 between West Memphis and Sikeston.
When fully operational, Interstate 57 will connect with multiple major east-west routes, including Interstates 30, 40, 70, 80, and 90, facilitating greater connections between Arkansas and other parts of the nation.
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