Interstate 130 Arkansas
Route Status
Interstate 130 was the number planned for the 5.8-mile freeway spur between Interstate 30 and U.S. 71 (East Street) within the city of Texarkana. The freeway carries Arkansas 245 shields at this time, but will become part of an extended Interstate 49 when Louisiana completes its link from Shreveport north to the state line.
The future Interstate 49 corridor runs between Shreveport, Louisiana and Kansas City, Missouri. A 29-mile segment of the future Interstate opened late 2005 between Arkansas 245 and Arkansas 160 near Doddridge. Designated as Arkansas 549, this freeway parallels U.S. 71 from a point four miles north of Louisiana to the Texarkana belt line. Construction is already underway southward to the state border and in stages within northwestern Louisiana as of May 2009.
In addition to serving the Interstate 49 corridor, Arkansas 245 also tangentially serves U.S. 59 in Texas, which is part of the greater Interstate 69 corridor between Laredo, Texas and Indianapolis, Indiana. U.S. 59 follows the Texas portion of the Texarkana belt line.
History
The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (ASHTD) submitted Interstate 130 as a future Interstate corridor to the American Association of State and Highway Transportation officials (AASHTO) in Fall 2000; on December 9, 2000, the Route Numbering subcommittee of AASHTO approved the designation as a future route.1 ASHTD also submitted a proposed extension of Interstate 130 from U.S. 71 west to State Line Avenue in Texarkana, but this was denied by AASHTO.
Starting in Winter 2001, Arkansas erected Future Interstate 130 shields along the Arkansas 245 corridor. But these were taken down by October 2003. Arkansas 245/Future Interstate 49 creates a limited access Texarkana belt line along with the existing Texas Loop 151 / U.S. 59 freeway on the Texas side of the city.
High Priority Corridor
Future Interstate 49, including the scuttled Interstate 130 designation, is part of High Priority Corridor 1 and 72: North-South Corridor.
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| Perspective from Future Interstate 130/Arkansas 245 south |
| Arkansas 249 (former planned Interstate 130) south at the temporary end with U.S. 71. The freeway continues south to a stack interchange with Arkansas 549 nearby and to a transition into Texas Loop 151. Photo taken by Justin Cozart (07/26/03). |
| Perspective from U.S. 71 north |
| U.S. 71 northbound at what was the Arkansas 245/planned Interstate 130 northbound beginning. The interchange between the two highways is a standard diamond. Traffic continuing straight will enter downtown Texarkana, Arkansas in less than three miles. Photo taken by Justin Cozart (07/26/03). |
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| The future ramp from U.S. 71/East Street southbound to Arkansas 245 westbound/Future Intestate 49. Arkansas 245 west to Texas Loop 151 leads drivers to the U.S. 59 freeway at Texas 93/South Lake Drive at Texarkana, Texas. Photo taken by Justin Cozart (07/26/03). |
| Future Interstate 49/130 stack interchange - Texarkana, Arkansas |
| The view from the Line Ferry Road bridge to the east at the unopened Interstate 49/Arkansas 245 stack interchange. The flyover now carries Arkansas 549 northbound traffic to Arkansas 245 west. Photo taken by Justin Cozart (07/26/03). |
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| A second perspective of the Future Interstate 49/Arkansas 245 stack interchange from Line Ferry Road. Photo taken by Justin Cozart (07/26/03). |
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| This perspective of the Future Interstate 49/Arkansas 245 stack interchange was taken from U.S. 71 to the northeast. Photo taken by Justin Cozart (07/26/03). |
| Perspective from Interstate 30 east |
| The possible northern terminus of Interstate 130 was thought to entail the Exit 2 diamond interchange, but construction is now underway involving a new high-speed interchange to the east with Future Interstate 49. This image looks at the Exit 2 off-ramp of Interstate 30 east. Photo taken by Justin Cozart (07/26/03). |
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Sources:
- Notice to Media: Interstate 130 to be designated in Arkansas dated January 10, 2001.
Page Updated May 14, 2009.
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