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Arkansas Highway 77

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Highway 77 (AR 77, Ark. 77, and Hwy. 77) is a north–south state highway in Northeast Arkansas. The route of 66.70 miles (107.34 km) runs from US Highway 70 (US 70) in West Memphis north through small towns and agricultural areas of the Arkansas Delta to Missouri Route 108 at the Missouri state line. It is generally a low-traffic road except in West Memphis. Created during the 1926 Arkansas state highway numbering, the route was extended in the 1950s and 1960s, including along a former alignment of US 61. AR 77 does not have any spur or business routes.

Highway 77 marker
Highway 77
Route information
Maintained by ArDOT
Length66.381 mi[1][2] (106.830 km)
ExistedApril 1, 1926[3]–present
Major junctions
South end US 70 in West Memphis
Major intersections I-40 / I-55 / US 61 / US 64 / US 78 / US 79 in West Memphis
I-55 / US 61 / US 78 in Turrell
I-555 from Turrell to Gilmore
US 78 / AR 18 through Manila
North end Route 108 at the Missouri state line
Location
CountryUnited States
StateArkansas
CountiesCrittenden, Mississippi
Highway system
← AR 76→ US 78

Between West Memphis and Turrell, the highway is part of the Great River Road National Scenic Byway. The route is maintained by the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT).

Route description

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ArDOT maintains AR 77 as part of the state highway system. ArDOT estimates the traffic level for a segment of roadway was highest just south of the I-40 junction in West Memphis, estimated at 21,000 vehicles per day in 2021, on average. It dropped to 15,000 VPD north of the interstate and continues to drop north, to 8,800 VPD, 1,400 VPD at James Mill, to 820 at Turrell. In Mississippi County, traffic was below 400 VPD south of Athelstan, and ranges between 440-1800 north of it (excluding concurrencies).[4] For reference, roads under 400 VPD are classified as "very low volume local road" by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).[5]

A small segment of AR 77 in West Memphis is part of the National Highway System (NHS),[6] a network of roads important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.[7]

AR 77 begins at US 70 (Broadway/Great River Road) in West Memphis, a suburb within the Memphis metropolitan area. The route runs north as Missouri Street and the Great River Road, beginning near the Wilson Power and Light Company Ice Plant[8] and one block north of the former West Memphis City Hall.[9] Continuing through a commercial area, AR 77 crosses Ten Mile Bayou and passes West Memphis Christian School before an intersection with I-40/I-55/US 61/US 64/US 78/US 79.[10] The highway passes underneath the freeway, briefly jogging along a service road and crossing the BNSF Railway before continuing northbound. Now in an industrial area known as Pressley Junction,[11] AR 77 serves as the northern terminus of AR 191 (7th Street) before crossing the Union Pacific Railway tracks and entering Marion. AR 77/GRR wind through the city to downtown Marion, where it intersects Military Road, which goes to US 64 near Marion City Hall. Continuing northbound, AR 77/GRR passes the historic Marion Colored High School in the small town of Sunset.[10]

The highway continues north, paralleling the BNSF railway into a rural area, passing through the small communities of James Mill, Jericho, and Clarkedale, serving as the eastern terminus of AR 50 (Clarkedale Road) in the latter. Continuing north, AR 77/GRR passes along the west side of the Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), crossing Big Creek, entering the city of Turrell, and intersecting AR 42, which serves as the entrance to the NWR. The routes run along the west side of Turrell, passing the former Turrell High School before entering a large interchange. AR 77 first intersects US 61, with the Great River Road turning onto US 61 north, as well as an on-ramp to I-55 southbound/US 78 eastbound. US 61/AR 77 continue north to an on-ramp to I-55/US 61 northbound/US 78 westbound; now alone, AR 77 becomes an on-ramp for the beginning of I-555. The two routes run together as a freeway to exit 2, where AR 77 exits I-555 east into Gilmore. The route then turns south and runs as a frontage road along I-555, curving along I-55/US 78 and eventually becoming a section line road facing due north toward Mississippi County.[12]

 
Diagram of the Lake David Interchange with I-55/US 61 (now with US 78 since November 2023) exit 23: AR 77 meets I-55/US 61/US 78 and becomes I-55/US 61/US 78/AR 77, with I-555 heading northwest

AR 77 passes through a rural area of the Arkansas Delta, briefly overlapping AR 308 near Birdsong and crossing AR 118 and the Tyronza River. It passes near the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home before a junction with AR 14. Continuing north, AR 77 serves as the eastern of both AR 198 near Bondsville and AR 297 near West Ridge. The route turns right at AR 140 in Etowah, forming a concurrency eastbound to Athelstan, where AR 77 turns left, breaking the concurrency. Continuing northbound, AR 77 serves as the eastern terminus of AR 136 at Carroll's Corner, briefly overlaps AR 158 at Floodway, passes through the unincorporated community of Shady Grove, and forms a short overlap with US 78/AR 18 in the small town of Manila. AR 77 continues north to a junction with AR 119 at Poplar Corner. The two routes form a wrong-way concurrency westbound to Leachville, where the concurrency ends at Main Street, with AR 77 turning north and continuing to the Missouri state line, where the road continues as Route 108.[13]

History

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Highway 77 was created in the 1926 Arkansas state highway numbering as one of the original state highways between State Road 40 between Etowah and West Ridge and Missouri.[3][14] The southern terminus was switched from West Ridge to Athelstan on the 1952 state highway map.[15][16]

A year later, a second segment of AR 77 was created between US 61 north of Turrell and Denwood.[16][17] On July 29, 1953, the Arkansas State Highway Commission extended the route along AR 14 and south to an area near Whitton.[18] The route was extended along a former alignment of US 61 between Turrell and West Memphis on August 22, 1956.[19] In the 1960s, AR 77 was rerouted around downtown Manila, with the former alignment becoming AR 18 Business (AR 18B).[20] On April 24, 1968, AR 77 was realigned onto a county road and replaced part of AR 136 through Bondsville at the request of the Mississippi county judge.[21]

A minor realignment took place at Manila following construction of a new AR 18 bypass in 2014.[22]

Major intersections

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Mile markers reset at concurrencies.

CountyLocationmi[1][2][23][a 1]kmDestinationsNotes
CrittendenWest Memphis17.84528.719  
  US 70 / Great River Road south (Broadway Avenue)		Southern terminus, south end of GRR overlap
16.2726.18   I-40 / I-55 (US 61 / US 64 / US 78 / US 79) – Little Rock, Blytheville, MemphisI-40 exits 276 (eastbound) and 278 (westbound); I-55 exit 7 (southbound)
15.8325.48 
  
  
  AR 191 south (7th Street) to I-40 / I-55 / AFCO Road
Marion12.8120.62 
  
 
  Military Road / Mound City Road to I-55 / US 64 west[a 2]
Clarkedale5.899.48 
  AR 50 west (Clarkedale Road)
Turrell1.873.01  
  AR 42 to I-55 – Turrell Business District, Wapanocca NWR Headquarters
0.000.00 
  
  
  I-55 south / US 61 north / US 78 east (Great River Road) – Wilson, Marion, West Memphis		South end of US 61 overlap, north end of GRR overlap
 
  
  
  
  I-55 north / I-555 begins / US 61 south / US 78 west – Memphis, Blytheville, St. Louis, MO		North end of US 61 overlap; south end of I-555 overlap; I-55/US 78 exit 23; I-555 exits 1A (south) and 1B (north); no direct access from AR 77 north to I-55 south/US 78 east
Gilmore24.14438.856 
  I-555 north – Marked Tree, Jonesboro, Gilmore		North end of I-555 overlap; AR 77 north follows exit 2
MississippiDimple16.8227.07 
  AR 308 west – Birdsong		South end of AR 308 overlap
​15.9025.59 
  AR 308 east – Frenchman's Bayou		North end of AR 308 overlap
​13.3821.53  AR 118 – Tyronza, Joiner
​6.8711.06  AR 14 – Lepanto, Wilson
​4.397.07 
  AR 198 west
​1.011.63 
  
  AR 297 south / CR 732 east
Etowah0.0000.000 
  AR 140 west – Lepanto		South end of AR 140 overlap[a 3]
Athelstan12.18919.616 
  
  AR 140 east / CR 209 south – Osceola		North end of AR 140 overlap
Carroll's Corner10.1016.25 
  AR 136 west – Etowah
​8.1913.18 
  AR 158 east – Luxora		South end of AR 158 overlap
Floodway6.6710.73 
  AR 158 west – Caraway		North end of AR 158 overlap
​0.0000.000 
  
  US 78 east / AR 18 east – Blytheville		South end of US 78/AR 18 overlap
Manila12.20319.639 
  
  US 78 west / AR 18 west		North end of US 78/AR 18 overlap
11.9319.20 
  AR 18B west (West Lake Street)		Former routing of AR 77
Poplar Corner8.9014.32 
  
  AR 119 north / CR 180 east – Buckeye		South end of AR 119 overlap
Leachville4.276.87 
  AR 119 south (Main Street) – Jonesboro		North end of AR 119 overlap
Arkmo0.0000.000 
  Route 108 north – Cardwell		Missouri state line
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Although highways in the United States run from south to north and west to east, ArDOT lists mileposts running from north to south.[1][2]
  2. ^ Military Road west of Highway 77 is US 64, even though the route also concurs with I-55/US 61/US 78 west of the intersection.[1] This is a leftover alignment prior to building I-55.
  3. ^ Although Arkansas highways normally terminate when intersected by a route of greater importance, Highway 77 in Mississippi County ends when intersecting Highway 140 because the route was formerly numbered AR 40 prior to creation of I-40.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Transportation Planning and Policy Division (September 17, 2021). State Highway Route and Section Map, Crittenden County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Transportation Planning and Policy Division (March 23, 2022). State Highway Route and Section Map, Mississippi County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Arkansas State Highway Department (April 1, 1926). State of Arkansas Showing System of State Highways (TIF) (Map). 1:500,000. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway Commission. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Arkansas GIS Office.
  4. ^ System Information & Research Division (2021). Annual Average Daily Traffic Estimates (Map). Arkansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  5. ^ American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (2019). Guidelines for Geometric Design of Low-Volume Roads (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. p. 2-8. ISBN 978-1-56051-726-9. OCLC 1140203768.
  6. ^ Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (2015). "Arkansas Road Log Database" (MDB). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  7. ^ Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike & Adderly, Kevin (June 29, 2017). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  8. ^ "National Register Information System – Wilson Power and Light Company Ice Plant (#09001244)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  9. ^ "National Register Information System – West Memphis City Hall (#10000444)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Transportation Planning and Policy Division (December 2016). Map of Marion, Sunset, and West Memphis, Crittenden County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:12,000. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. §§ A5, B5, C5-C6, D6, E7-J7. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  11. ^ DeLorme (2018). Arkansas Atlas & Gazetteer (Map) (5th ed.). 1:127,000. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. p. 70. ISBN 9781946494207. OCLC 1066245581.
  12. ^ Transportation Planning and Policy Division (March 22, 2016) [January 2, 2007]. General Highway Map, Crittenden County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. OCLC 910967299. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  13. ^ Transportation Planning and Policy Division (April 1, 2022) [May 3, 2006]. General Highway Map, Mississippi County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. OCLC 914805629. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  14. ^ Map Adopted by State Legislature as State Highway System, Mississippi County (Map). [Arkansas] State Highway Department. 1929. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  15. ^ Arkansas State Highway Commission (July 1951). Official Highway Map of Arkansas (TIF) (Map). Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway Commission. § B9. Retrieved November 27, 2022 – via Arkansas GIS Office.
  16. ^ a b Arkansas State Highway Commission (1952). Official Highway Map of Arkansas (TIF) (Map). 1:823,680. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway Commission. § C12. Retrieved November 27, 2022 – via Arkansas GIS Office.
  17. ^ Arkansas State Highway Commission (1953). Official Highway Map of Arkansas (TIF) (Map). 1:823,680. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway Commission. Retrieved November 27, 2022 – via Arkansas GIS Office.
  18. ^ "Minutes of the Meeting of the Arkansas State Highway Commission" (PDF). Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway Commission. 1953–1969. p. 2255. OCLC 21798861. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  19. ^ "Minutes" (1953–69), pp. 1661, 1919.
  20. ^ "Minutes" (1953–69), pp. 676, 1045.
  21. ^ "Minutes" (1953–69), p. 166.
  22. ^ Bennett, Scott E. (June 19, 2014). "Minute Order 2014-071" (PDF). Administrative Circular 2014-08. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. pp. 12–14. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  23. ^ Arkansas Centerline File (GIS Map) (Map) (Updated ed.). Arkansas Department of Transformation and Shared Services. May 13, 2022 [September 29, 2014]. Retrieved November 27, 2022 – via GIS Office.
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