Loop (Texarkana)

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Texarkana Loop
Route information
Length21.4 mi[1][2] (34.4 km)
Component
highways
Major junctions
Major intersections
I-30 / I-369 / US 59 in Texarkana, TX
US 59 / US 71 in Texarkana, AR
Location
StatesTexas, Arkansas
CountiesTX: Bowie; AR: Miller
Highway system

The Loop is a 21.4-mile-long (34.4 km) beltway around Texarkana, TX and Texarkana, AR, which are twin cities in the U.S. states of Arkansas and Texas. Consisting of a section of Interstate 49 (I-49) in Arkansas, and Loop 151 and a section of I-369 and U.S. Route 59 (US 59) in Texas, it forms a three-quarter loop around the east, south and west sides of the city. (I-30 completes the circle on the north side.) The Loop is built to Interstate Highway standards.

The south side is bisected by State Line Avenue, which travels north–south along the state line. The entire half in Arkansas is I-49 and Hwy. 151, which is unsigned. US 59 has an interchange with the Loop near the southwest corner, only the south side in Texas is Loop 151. Old US 59 into Texarkana (Lake Drive) is now State Highway 93 (SH 93).

Route description[]

The Loop consists of I-30, I-369, Loop 151, and AR 151. US 59 is concurrent with the beltway from the southwest corner of Texarkana to State Line Avenue. I-30 forms the northern portion of the route, running north of both the twin cities. The eastern section of the Loop consists of I-49 and AR 151, and runs from US 59/71 north of I-30 to an interchange with I-49 on the southeast side of Texarkana. The southern section of the loop consists of Loop 151 and AR 151. It runs from I-49 in southeast Texarkana to I-369 in southwest Texarkana. The western section of the loop is formed by I-369. I-369 continues north on the western side of Texarkana to a stack interchange with I-30 in northwest Texarkana.

History[]

Previously in Texas, the "151" designation was originally used for Spur 151, which was designated on May 18, 1944 from Denison to the southern boundary of the Federal Government Property. Spur 151 was cancelled on May 21, 1946 and instead replaced by SH 75A, which in turn became SH 91 on December 21, 1994. Loop 151 was designated on August 27, 1958 from I-30 to US 82. On January 20, 1966, Loop 151 extended south to US 59. On December 21, 1982, Loop 151 was transferred to US 59, so Loop 151 was reassigned to the old route of US 59. On February 7, 1985, Loop 151 was transferred to SH 93, so Loop 151 was reused for the route from US 59 to Arkansas, its current route.

In fall 2000, the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (ArDOT) had submitted its portion of the loop as Interstate 130 (I-130) in fall 2000. However, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) denied the part from US 71 west to Texas, as "the state of Texas has not submitted a companion application for a suitable terminus in Texas", but the piece from US 71 north to I-30 was approved on December 8, 2000 as Future I-130. Once it was upgraded to Interstate standards and added to the Interstate Highway System by the Federal Highway Administration, it was to be signed as I-130.[3][4] Arkansas used American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funds to pave the final segment of future I-130, from the Arkansas Boulevard interchange to a new freeway-to-freeway interchange with I-30.[5] Once this section was opened, the only remaining requirement to become I-130 would have been to upgrade the at-grade intersection with 19th Street to a full interchange; the right-of-way for this was reserved years ago. However, with I-49 also pending completion between Texarkana and Shreveport, Louisiana (including a segment in Arkansas also being built with ARRA funds),[5] future I-130 was instead made part of I-49 by summer 2014.

In May 2013, the final designated portion of AR 245 was removed from service and re-designated Four States Fair Blvd. Highway 245 was the former designation of Arkansas's section of the loop.

Interstate 369 was designated on May 30, and signs of the highway were installed on September 23, 2013.[6]

Exit list[]

StateCountyLocationmi[1][2]kmExitDestinationsNotes
TexasBowieTexarkana0.00.0 I-30 / US 59 east – Dallas, Little RockNorthern terminus of I-369; US 59 continues north; exit 220A on I-30
0.20.32114B FM 559 (Richmond Road)Northbound exit and southbound entrance
0.40.64114A US 82 (New Boston Road)
1.21.9113Westlawn Drive – Wake Village
2.13.4112 US 67 (7th Street)
3.25.1111BFrontage RoadSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
3.86.1111A US 59 south / SH 93 north (Lake Drive) – Atlanta, HoustonSouthern terminus of I-369; US 59 continues south; western terminus of Loop 151
4.57.2 FM 3527 (Leopard Drive)Northbound exit and southbound entrance; southbound access via previous exit
5.79.2 FM 558 (Buchanan Road)
TexasArkansas
state line
BowieMiller
county line
TexarkanaTexarkana
city line
7.3
0.0
11.7
0.0
South State Line AvenueEastern terminus of Loop 151; western terminus of AR 151
ArkansasMillerTexarkana1.42.31 I-49 south – ShreveportEastern terminus of AR 151; I-49 continues south; exit number not signed westbound
1.93.129 US 71 – Texarkana
3.25.131 AR 196 (Genoa Road)
4.6–
5.2
7.4–
8.4
32 US 82 (9th Street) / 19th StreetServes Magnolia and El Dorado
6.810.935Arkansas Boulevard / Four States Fair ParkwayServes Texarkana Regional Airport
8.914.337 I-30 – Hope, Little Rock, Texarkana, DallasSigned as exits 37A (east) and 37B (west)
12.219.641Sanderson Lane (CR 23)
ArkansasTexas
state line
MillerBowie
county line
TexarkanaTexarkana
city line
14.122.742 US 71 (US 59) – Texarkana, Ashdown, Fort SmithAt-grade intersection; northern terminus of I-49; exit number not signed
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References[]

KML is from Wikidata
  1. ^ a b Google (October 5, 2014). "Overview Map of Texarkana Loop in Texas" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Google (October 5, 2014). "Overview Map of Texarkana Loop in Arkansas" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  3. ^ Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (December 8, 2000). "Report of the Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering to the Standing Committee on Highways" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 16, 2017.
  4. ^ Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (January 2001). "Interstate 130 to be designated in Arkansas" (Press release). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. "AHTD List of ARRA projects" (PDF). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. (Though both are labeled "Hwy. 71" here, as described #030325 is AR 245/future I-130 & I-49, while #030354 is AR 549/future I-49.)
  6. ^ Alliance for I-69 Texas (September 25, 2013). "Texarkana Freeway Added to Interstate 69 System" (Press release). Alliance for I-69 Texas. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
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