Scenic Highway 71?

A group of business owners in northern Crawford County is working to have U.S. Highway 71 declared a state scenic byway from Alma to Fayetteville.

The effort was undertaken to keep tourist traffic on 71 after the four-lane, interstate-quality Arkansas 540 opens in early 1999 and an estimated 85 percent of 71’s traffic takes 540 instead. The effort actually began in 1992, but roadblocks have stalled progress until recently.

Russell Blaylock, owner of Artist’s Point, a gift and souvenir shop, is spearheading the effort along with Glenn Jorgenson, owner of Sky-Vue Lodge, and Dennis and Kelley Fagan, owners of Lakeview Overlook, another gift shop.

The initial proposal was approved Oct. 27 by the Arkansas Scenic Resources Preservation Coordinating Committee. The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department plans to have a public hearing in Mountainburg in December to take comments about the plan. If there’s no hitch, the plan can go before the state Highway Commission in January.

The scenic byway designation would be used on maps and in travel brochures to encourage tourists to travel 71. The state would take responsibility for maintaining the highway, mowing the shoulders and posting signs designating it a scenic byway. Also, certain sign regulations would be implemented.

About 12,000 cars pass through northern Crawford County each day, according to 1996 statistics from the AHTD. The majority of businesses along 71 are tourist-oriented, such as shops, motels and horseback riding stables.

Another plus is that tractor-trailer trucks will use 540 instead, making 71 safer and more pleasant to drive.

Arkansas currently has two state scenic byways: Arkansas Highway 7 running the length of the state (194 miles) from Arkadelphia to Harrison, and Arkansas Highway 309 running 44 miles from Webb City south of Ozark over Mount Magazine to Havana in Yell County.

The proposed scenic byway would stretch from Arkansas Highway 282 north of Alma to the Fayetteville 71 bypass.

tttttttttt—Bill Bowden