Boozman provision in appropriations bill paves way for U.S. 67 to become I-57

U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., on Monday (April 25) said a provision in the Fiscal Year 2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funding bill would put Arkansas on the path to add another interstate highway to the nation’s transportation system.

The Senate Appropriations Committee reported the bill on Thursday containing Boozman’s language, designating U.S. 67 from North Little Rock to Walnut Ridge as “Future I-57.”

The bill would also give Arkansas the ability to request that any segment of the road that is built to interstate standards be officially added to the federal interstate system as “I-57.”

Boozman, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the change would benefit the entire state.

“Arkansas has worked for decades to build this road. The time has come to start calling it what it is — an interstate-quality highway that connects Arkansas farms, factories and travelers, to the rest of our country,” Boozman said. “New interstates take many years and support from the federal, state and local level to complete. As we work over the coming years to build future interstates in Arkansas, such as I-49, I-69 and a completed I-57, we will make Arkansas a better-connected state that is open for business.”

The designation of Highway 67 from North Little Rock to Walnut Ridge as “Future I-57” establishes in federal law that the region is on-track to officially add a direct interstate connection from the Little Rock region to Chicago as “Interstate 57″, Boozman said.

In the announcement, Boozman said the change would also help with bringing industry to the state. The statement was echoed by a pair of economic development officials.

“The designation of U.S. 67 as a future interstate is an incredible milestone for all communities along and in proximity to this corridor,” said Buck Layne, Executive Director for the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce. “We have spent decades working toward the goal of completing this vital interstate connector to improve the transportation network and expand economic development opportunities for the state and region. While much work remains ahead, we are tremendously grateful to Senator Boozman for securing this language in the Senate version of the annual Transportation funding bill.”

Jon Chadwell, who serves as Executive Director for the Newport Economic Development Commission, said the designation will play a huge role in trade.

“The effort to have U.S. Highway 67 designated as the future I-57 corridor will bring new economic opportunity to both northeastern Arkansas and the state as a whole,” Chadwell said. “The addition of an interstate corridor from Chicago to Little Rock will increase Arkansas’s position as the crossroads of America and give companies an even greater access to national and global markets, allowing communities along the corridor to compete more effectively for new industries and grow their existing industries.”

Resolutions of support for the I-57 designation have been passed by the Newport Economic Development Commission as well as Chambers of Commerce in Bald Knob, Cabot, Jacksonville, Lawrence County, Newport, Sherwood and Searcy.

Jonesboro officials and U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, have also been supportive of the project. The Jonesboro Chamber recently led a delegation of local leaders to Washington, D.C. to rally support for I-57 status.

Currently, Arkansas has parts of seven interstates within its borders. They include interstates 30, 40, 55, 430, 530, 555 and 630. In addition to those interstates, future I-57 would join future I-49 as a “future” designated status.

Highway commissioner Frank Scott said, “I-57 has been a community effort for some time to get this design for economic development and is a great example of a collaborative effort between central and Northesat Arkansas working together.”