Arkansas Highway 33 Explained

State:AR
Type:AR
Route:33
Map:Arkansas 33.png
Established:1926
Direction A:South
Terminus A: near Almyra
Junction: in Roe
between DeValls Bluff and Biscoe
near Biscoe
in Augusta
Direction B:North
Terminus B: near Tupelo
Length Mi:85.92
Length Ref:[1]
Counties:Arkansas, Prairie, Monroe, Woodruff, Jackson
Previous Type:AR
Previous Route:32
Next Type:AR
Next Route:34

Highway 33 (AR 33, Ark. 33, and Hwy. 33) is a north–south state highway in eastern Arkansas. The highway runs 23.86miles from Highway 130 north of DeWitt to Highway 37 east of Tupelo. Highway 33 roughly connects four county seats: DeWitt, DeValls Bluff, Des Arc and Augusta. One of the original Arkansas state highways, the highway's routing has remained largely the same since inception, with the exception of one extension in 1956.

Route description

Highway 33 begins at Highway 130 north of DeWitt in Arkansas County on the Grand Prairie in the Arkansas Delta. The highway runs north to a brief overlap with Highway 153 at Lagrue, followed by the western terminus of Highway 33 Spur at Casscoe. Continuing north, the highway reaches a T-intersection with Highway 146. Highway 33 forms a 1miles concurrency with Highway 146 before turning north toward Monroe County.[2] After riding the Arkansas/Monroe county line for approximately 1.5miles, the route enters Prairie County for 2.49miles before entering the western portion of Monroe County.

The route serves as the western terminus for Highway 366 before entering the town of Roe. Beginning in Roe, Highway 33 forms a concurrency with US Highway 79 (US 79) northbound for approximately 1.2miles. The routes split north of town, with Highway 33 turning due west and passing the Clarendon Municipal Airport before exiting the county northbound.[3] Returning to Prairie County, Highway 33 serves has intersections with Highway 86 and Highway 302 and passes farm fields and channel catfish aquaculture ponds before entering DeValls Bluff, one of two county seats of Prairie County. Shortly after entering the city, Highway 33 begins a 4.1miles concurrency with US 70 through the city, over the White River and into Fredonia (Biscoe). Highway 33 turns north, interchanging with Interstate 40 (I-40) and passing agricultural land on the west side of the road and the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge to the east. The highway has an 6.7miles overlap with Highway 38 east of Des Arc until meeting the Woodruff County line at Little Dixie.[4] Upon entering Woodruff County, Highway 33 continue north along the western edge of the Cache River NWR, encountering Highway 262 twice and passing through Gregory. The road intersects Highway 260 before nearing Augusta and intersecting with Highway 33 City. Highway 33 bypasses Augusta to the east before meeting US 64 and beginning an overlap around Augusta's northeastern city limits. The overlap ends after approximately 1.2miles and Highway 33 again becomes a rural route passing through agricultural areas.[5]

Upon entering the southern portion of Jackson County, the route runs east to Tupelo, where a southbound concurrency with Highway 17 forms for approximately 1.5miles to Overcup, when it turns east, crosses the Cache River, and terminates at Highway 37.[6]

History

Highway 33 was an original Arkansas state highway, running from Roe to Tupelo in Jackson County. The highway was extended south from US 79 in Roe to its current southern terminus by the Arkansas State Highway Commission (ASHC) on May 9, 1956.[7] Highway 33's original alignment through Augusta was restored to the state highway system in 1956 as Highway 33 City.[8] The alignment was shifted slightly in 1970 to pass by the Clarendon Municipal Airport.[9]

Auxiliary routes

Arkansas Highway 33 has two total auxiliary routes. Hwy. 33 spur is a short spur route near Casscoe serving as a connector to a residential area near the White River. Hwy. 33 City is a business route in Augusta serving the downtown business district while the parent route bypasses the city to the east and north.

Casscoe spur

State:AR
Route:33
Type:AR-Spur
Length Mi:1.75
Length Round:2
Location:Casscoe

Highway 33 Spur (AR 33S, Ark. 33S, and Hwy. 33S) is a spur route of 1.75miles in Casscoe. The route runs east from Highway 33 to a residential area near the White River.

Major intersections

Augusta city route

State:AR
Route:33
Type:AR-Bus
Highway 33 City
Length Mi:3.10
Length Round:2
Location:Augusta
Formed:May 9, 1956

Highway 33 City (AR 33C, Ark. 33C, and Hwy. 33C) is a business route of 3.1miles in Augusta.

Route descriptionHighway 33C begins at Highway 33 southeast of Augusta. The highway runs due west into the city's southern portion, or New Augusta., as Gregory St. In the city limits, Highway 33C curves north and becomes 6th St, turns west becoming Sycamore St and turns again north on 3rd St. Highway 33 City begins an overlap with U.S. Route 64 Business (US 64B) at Main St, and the two highways pass through the Augusta Commercial Historic District. Now in the oldest part of Augusta, the highways are also paralleled by the Augusta History Walk. Highway 33 passes the Ferguson House, Augusta Presbyterian Church and Woodruff County Courthouse, all listed on the National Register of Historic Places before turning onto Magnolia St, passing the Augusta Memorial Park, turning onto 5th St, and terminating at US 64.
HistoryHighway 33's original alignment through Augusta was restored to the state highway system in 1956 as Highway 33 City.[8]

Major intersections

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Arkansas Road Log Database . System Information and Research Division . 2014 . Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department . MDB . March 27, 2016 . August 29, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170829203521/http://www.arkansashighways.com/System_Info_and_Research/traffic_info/databases/Road%20Log%20Database.zip . dead .
  2. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department . General Highway Map, Arkansas County, Arkansas . Planning and Research Division . PDF . April 3, 2014 . March 27, 2016 .
  3. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department . General Highway Map, Monroe County, Arkansas . Planning and Research Division . PDF . April 3, 2014 . March 27, 2016 .
  4. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department . General Highway Map, Prairie County, Arkansas . Planning and Research Division . PDF . April 3, 2014 . March 27, 2016 .
  5. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department . General Highway Map, Woodruff County, Arkansas . Planning and Research Division . PDF . April 3, 2014 . March 27, 2016 .
  6. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department . General Highway Map, Jackson County, Arkansas . Planning and Research Division . PDF . April 3, 2014 . March 29, 2016 .
  7. Web site: Minute Order 1415 . PDF . Minutes of the Meeting . May 9, 1956 . Arkansas State Highway Commission (ASHC) . 1865 . March 27, 2016 . October 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181001143728/http://www.arkansashighways.com/minute_orders/Mo53-69.pdf . dead .
  8. Web site: Minute Order 1499 . PDF . Minutes of the Meeting . May 9, 1956 . ASHC . 1877–1878 . March 27, 2016 . October 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181001143728/http://www.arkansashighways.com/minute_orders/Mo53-69.pdf . dead .
  9. Web site: Minute Order 70-45 . PDF . Minutes of the Meeting . February 25, 1970 . ASHC . 1590 . March 30, 2016 . November 5, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111105110847/http://www.arkansashighways.com/minute_orders/Mo70-79.pdf . dead .