Arkansas Highway 72 Explained

State:AR
Type:AR
Route:72
Map:Arkansas 72.png
Established:1926
Length Mi1:26.32
Length Ref1:[1]
Direction A1:West
Terminus A1: at Maysville
Junction1:
Direction B1:East
Terminus B1: in Bentonville
Length Mi2:12.67
Direction A2:West
Terminus A2: in Bentonville
Direction B2:East
Terminus B2: near Avoca
Counties:Benton
Previous Type:US
Previous Route:71
Next Type:AR
Next Route:73

Highway 72 (AR 72, Ark. 72, and Hwy. 72) is a designation for two east–west state highways in Benton County, Arkansas. A western route of 26.32miles runs east from Highway 43 at Maysville to U.S. Route 71B (US 71B) in Bentonville.[2] A second route of 12.67miles begins at Interstate 49/US Route 71 (I-49/US 71) in Bentonville and runs northeast to US 62 near Avoca. The route is one of the original Arkansas state highways.[3]

Route description

Maysville to Bentonville

The route begins at Highway 43 in Maysville and runs east to Gravette. Highway 72 intersects Highway 59 in Gravette near the Kansas City Southern Railway Caboose No. 383 on the National Register of Historic Places. The highway continues east past the Banks House to the community of Hiwasse within Gravette, having an interchange with I-49 just west of the community, where the highway passes the Hiwasse Bank Building. Upon reaching Hiwasse, Highway 72 has an officially designated exception of 0.52miles with Highway 279.[4] The highway runs southeast into Centerton, having another interchange with I-49 southeast of Hiwasee. Highway 72 has a junction with Highway 102B before entering Bentonville. In Bentonville the highway becomes Central Avenue, running east through subdivisions until meeting US 71B and terminating a few blocks west of the Bentonville town square.

Bentonville to Avoca

Highway 72 begins at I-49/US 71 in Bentonville and runs northeast to Pea Ridge. The highway has an overlap with Highway 94 through Pea Ridge before turning southeast and runs through Pea Ridge National Military Park. South of the park Highway 72 terminates at US 62.

History

Between Bentonville and Gravette, Highway 72 follows a former alignment of U.S. Route 71. In the late 1990s Highway 72 was rerouted away from downtown Bentonville along US 71B, Highway 102, and Highway 112.

Bentonville spur

State:AR
Route:72
Type:AR-Spur
Length Mi:1
Length Round:0
Deleted:yes
Location:Bentonville

Highway 72 Spur (AR 72B, Ark. 72B, and Hwy. 72B) is a former spur route in Bentonville. Its southern terminus was at an intersection with U.S. Route 71 (now U.S. Route 71B) with a northern terminus at an intersection with Arkansas Highway 72 (aka Central Ave) in Bentonville. Running a total distance of 1miles, it was an older alignment of U.S. 71 and at one time was part of U.S. Route 71B.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Arkansas Road Log Database . Planning and Research Division . March 28, 2012 . Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department . MBD . April 13, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110623010127/http://arkansashighways.com/planning_research/technical_services/databases/Road%20Log%20Database.zip . June 23, 2011 .
  2. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department . General Highway Map, Benton County, Arkansas . Planning and Research Division . PDF . February 10, 2012 . 1:62500 . April 20, 2012 .
  3. Limerick . R. C. . Arkansas State Highway Commission . State Highway System of the State of Arkansas . 1926 . Original . May 10, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110622234257/http://arkansashighways.com/planning_research/mapping_graphics/archived_tourist_maps/archived_tourist_maps.aspx . June 22, 2011 .
  4. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department . Route and Section Map - Benton County, Arkansas . Planning and Research Department . May 10, 2012 .