| State: | AR |
| Type: | AR |
| Route: | 112 |
| Map: | Arkansas 112.png |
| Length Mi: | 25.84 |
| Length Ref: | [1] |
| Established: | 1926 |
| Direction A: | South |
| Terminus A: | in Fayetteville |
| Junction: | in Fayetteville in Tontitown |
| Direction B: | North |
| Terminus B: | in Bentonville |
| Previous Type: | AR |
| Previous Route: | 111 |
| Next Type: | AR |
| Next Route: | 113 |
Highway 112 (AR 112, Ark. 112, and Hwy. 112) is a north–south state highway in Northwest Arkansas. The route of 25.84miles runs from Highway 16S north through Fayetteville, across I-49/US 62/US 71 to Highway 12 in Bentonville.[2] [3]
Highway 112 begins at Highway 16S (Wedington Drive) in Fayetteville just north of the University of Arkansas campus. The route continues as an important artery through the city. The highway serves as the southern terminus of US 71B at an interchange with I-49/US 62/US 71. Highway 112 continues north to Tontitown as Maestri Road, intersecting US 412 in Tontitown. Continuing north through Elm Springs as Elm Street, the route enters Benton County.
Highway 112 runs north in a brief concurrency with Highway 264 in Cave Springs before entering Bentonville and terminating at Highway 12 near the Bentonville Municipal Airport.
Highway 112 was one of the original 1926 state highways.[4] The original Highway 112 was unpaved and ran 2.2miles from Arkansas Highway 16 in Fayetteville north to an area south of Johnson. The route was paved in 1948, and extended north to Bentonville in 1951.[5] The Cave Springs to Highway 12 segment was paved at the time of addition, with the entire length becoming paved by 1956. Highway 112S was created in 1971 from a segment of Highway 16.
In the early 2000s, an agreement between the ARDOT, City of Fayetteville, and University of Arkansas to widen Highway 112 to four lanes between Highway 16 (15th Street) and I-49 came into place. Construction began in 2006 between North Street (Highway 112S) to Janice Street and continued intermittently over the years as funding came available. As part of the agreement, ARDOT would build and pay for the widening projects, with Fayetteville accepting the road under city maintenance and control after the widening was complete. The University would maintain landscaping throughout the segment crossing the campus of the University of Arkansas.[6] [7]
The route was truncated to its current northern terminus in February 2012, the route formerly continued along Highway 12 and US 71B to terminate at Highway 72 in Bentonville.
The route closely follows the same path it did during the Civil War and is designated as part of the Arkansas Civil War Trail.[8] Highway 112 is also designated as part of the Arkansas Trail of Tears northern route.[9]
As traffic increased on I-49, Highway 112 became a shortcut to avoid the interstate. However, the route quickly became congested itself due to the growing population of Bentonville and the desire to find a quicker route to reach the Northwest Arkansas National Airport.[10] As a result, the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT) has made plans to widen a 12miles stretch of the route between US 412 in Tontitown to its northern terminus at Highway 12 in Bentonville.[11] In late-September 2023, the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) approved ArDOT's request for a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), allowing them to begin right-of-way acquisition for the widening of the roadway.[12] The project will expand Highway 112 from two to four lanes with a raised median, curb and gutter, a sidewalk on one side of the highway and a side path on the other side of the highway. At least eight roundabouts will also be constructed.[13] Construction is set to being in 2025; a completion date has not been announced yet.
Another 5.5miles stretch of Highway 112 south of the US 412 intersection will also be widened in the same way, although this will be a separate project from the widening project to the north of US 412.