Arkansas Highway 16

Highway 16
Route information
Maintained by ArDOT
Existed	1926[2]–present
Section 1
Length	24.13 mi[1] (38.83 km)
West end	US 412 / AR 59 in Siloam Springs
East end	I-49 / US 62 / US 71 / AR 16S in Fayetteville
Section 2
Length	71.67 mi[1] (115.34 km)
West end	I-49 / US 71 / AR 265 in Fayetteville
East end	AR 7 in the Ozark National Forest
Section 3
Length	132.69 mi[1] (213.54 km)
West end	AR 7 / AR 123 at Sand Gap
Major intersections	US 65 in Clinton
East end	US 67B in Searcy
Location
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
Counties	Benton, Washington, Madison, Newton, Pope, Searcy, Van Buren, Cleburne, White
Highway system
Arkansas Highway System Interstate US State Business Spurs Suffixed Scenic Heritage
← AR 15 → AR 17

Eastern terminus of Highway 16 in Searcy, Arkansas.

Arkansas Highway 16 (AR 16) is a designation for three state highways in Arkansas. One segment of 24.13 miles (38.83 km) runs from U.S. Route 412 (US 412) in Siloam Springs east to Interstate 49 (I-49) in Fayetteville. A second segment of 71.67 miles (115.34 km) runs from I-49 in Fayetteville east to Highway 7 in the Ozark National Forest. A third segment of 132.69 miles (213.54 km) runs from Highway 7 at Sand Gap east to US 67B in Searcy. Highway 16 was created during the 1926 Arkansas state highway numbering, and much of the highway winds through the Ozarks, including the Ozark National Forest, where a portion of it is designated as an Arkansas Scenic Byway. The route has two spur routes in Northwest Arkansas; in Fayetteville and Siloam Springs.

Route description

Siloam Springs to Fayetteville

Highway 16 westbound near Savoy and the Illinois River

Highway 16 begins in Siloam Springs in Benton County, 3 miles (4.8 km) from the Oklahoma border. The highway's western terminus is US 412/Highway 59 in a commercial area; it runs south to Highway 16S (Kenwood Avenue). Highway 16 continues southeast, exiting the city and becoming a steep, winding road through the oak-hickory forest. Near the Washington County line, Highway 16 enters a small segment of the Ozark National Forest disconnected from the larger section of the forest north of Russellville. At the county line, Highway 16 serves as the eastern terminus of Highway 244, and briefly runs east along the county line as a section line road.[3] In Washington County, Highway 16 continues east in the National Forest, serving the Lake Wedington Recreation Area, which contains the Lake Wedington Historic District, and crossing the Illinois River, the eastern boundary of the National Forest, near Savoy. It continues to wind through sparsely populated forested land, passing the unincorporated community of Wedington Woods before entering Fayetteville, the third-largest city in Arkansas and county seat of Washington County.[4]

In west Fayetteville, Highway 16 becomes a four-lane highway with paved median, used as a two-way left turn lane (TWLTL), known as Wedington Drive.[1] The highway is a principal arterial in the City of Fayetteville's 2011 Master Street Plan.[5] A focal point of growth in the rapidly developing Northwest Arkansas region, the Wedington Corridor has been subject to much planning and discussion in Fayetteville over the years, subject to biannual neighborhood planning charrettes by a broad group of Fayetteville stakeholders.[6] The area was annexed into Fayetteville in pieces beginning in 1967, with the combination of a variety of land uses and zonings resulting in rapid growth, heavy traffic congestion, and limited pedestrian facilities. Highway 16 meets I-49/US 62/US 71, where it continues as Highway 16S.

Fayetteville to Ozark National Forest

The route begins at I-49 and US 71 as a continuation of Highway 265 (Cato Springs Road) and runs north along Razorback Road to an intersection, where Highway 16 turns east onto Fifteenth Street. The highway has a junction with School Avenue (former US 71B), and shortly thereafter a signalized crossing of the Razorback Greenway near Walker Park before continuing east as a two-lane road. Highway 16 gives access to the Fayetteville Industrial Park before becoming Huntsville Road, serving as the southern terminus of Highway 265. In east Fayetteville, Highway 16 crosses Lake Sequoyah, and begins paralleling the lake's source stream, the White River, for approximately 35 miles (56 km) to its headwaters near Pettigrew.[7][4][8]

Former Highway 16 bridge over Cannon Creek, now listed on the NRHP

The route enters Elkins, serves as the terminus of Highway 74, and continues south past Stokenbury Cemetery, Elkins High School, the Elkins Public Library, and the Elkins School District Central Office before exiting the town heading southeast.[9] Highway 16 passes through the unincorporated community of Durham before entering Madison County.[4] In the sparsely populated county, Highway 16 winds eastward near Cannon Creek, where it passes a former alignment, including a former bridge listed on the National Register of Historic Places, before continuing through several unincorporated communities, intersecting segments of Highway 295 at Crosses and Combs before intersecting Highway 23 at Brashears. This junction is the northern terminus of the Pig Trail Scenic Byway along Highway 23, an Arkansas Scenic Byway.[10] The two highways form a concurrency through St. Paul.[8] Northeast of the town, Highway 16 breaks from Highway 23 to the east. The area is sparsely populated with little development; most structures are historic churches, schools, and community centers like Williams Farmstead the former Pettigrew School, both listed on the NRHP.[11] Highway 16 serves as the northern boundary for the White Rock Wildlife Management Area (WMA) within the Ozark National Forest, with access to hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking from various county roads at Dutton, Pettigrew, Boston, and Red Star.[12]

Highway 16 running concurrent with Highway 21 north of Fallsville as a segment of the Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway.

Shortly after entering Newton County, Highway 16 intersects Highway 21 at Fallsville, and the two routes begin a concurrency heading northeast. They pass the Glory Hole Trail, a popular waterfall at the end of a hiking trail along an old logging road, and the southern edge of the Upper Buffalo Wilderness, which contains the famous Hawksbill Crag hiking trail.[13][14][15] The overlap is also designated as part of the Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway, a state scenic byway connecting the Ozark National Forest and the Buffalo National River.[16] The concurrency ends at Edwards Junction, and Highway 16 continues east through forested land as the northern boundary of the Piney Creeks Wildlife Management Area (WMA), owned by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and passing through Deer before a junction with Highway 7, where it terminates.[17]

Sand Gap to Searcy

The route begins at Highway 7 and Highway 123 at Sand Gap in Pope County and runs east, briefly entering Newton County, returning to Pope County, and reentering Newton County to pass through Ben Hur, before returning to Pope County and running toward Raspberry.[18] Highway 16 briefly runs north into Searcy County, exiting the Ozark National Forest and serving as the southern terminus of Highway 377.[19] Immediately after reentering Pope County, Highway 16 intersects Highway 27, forming a concurrency south for 4.7 miles (7.6 km), where Highway 16 turns east to enter Van Buren County.[18]

Highway 16 east of the Highway 9 overlap at Shirley

The route winds through rural areas, passing through Alread just north of the Gulf Mountain WMA, and ultimately entering Clinton. In the northern part of the city, Highway 16 intersects and forms a concurrency with US 65. After a bridge over Archey Fork (a tributary of the South Fork Little Red River), Highway 16 begins a concurrency with Highway 9 and turns east to an intersection with Highway 980, which provides access to Clinton Municipal Airport, and continue northeast to an intersection with Highway 110 near Shirley. In the city, Highway 9 splits north toward Mountain View, with Highway 16 running south to Fairfield Bay. An intersection with Highway 330 provides access to Van Buren Recreation Area and the Fairfield Bay Marina on Greers Ferry Lake. Highway 16 runs east along the northern edge of the planned community, serving as a main commercial thoroughfare in the community along the lake.[9][20] Shortly after entering Cleburne County, the route turns south and crosses the upper section of Greers Ferry Lake. Across the lake, Highway 16 enters the City of Greers Ferry. It forms an overlap with Highway 92 southbound, where the routes intersect Highway 110 and Highway 336, and cross the lake again.

Highway 16 bridge over Greers Ferry Lake

Shortly after entering Cleburne County, the route turns south and crosses the upper section of Greers Ferry Lake. Across the lake, Highway 16 enters the City of Greers Ferry. It forms an overlap with Highway 92 southbound, where the routes intersect Highway 110 and Highway 336, and cross the lake again. At Whispering Springs, Highway 92 breaks from the concurrency; Highway 16 runs along the southwestern side of the lake, providing access to several parks and recreation areas. Highway 16 intersects Highway 25, which is concurrent with Highway 107. The three highways run northeast; Highway 107 turns north toward Eden Isle, and the two remaining routes form a concurrency with Highway 5 south of Heber Springs. Highway 5, Highway 16, and Highway 25 run together for 0.8 miles (1.3 km) before Highway 5/Highway 25 turn north, with Highway 16 continuing eastward to Pangburn.[21]

In Pangburn, Highway 16 passes several historic homes, including the Walter Marsh House, John Shutter House, and the Austin Pangburn House before an intersection with Highway 124 (Searcy Street).[11] Highway 16 turns south, passing the Churchill-Hilger House, James William Boggs House, Dr. McAdams House, and the Rufus Gray House before exiting town to the south. It passes the Albert Whisinant House on its way south to an intersection with Highway 305, near the Wesley Marsh House. Highway 16 also intersects Highway 310, which gives access to Letona to the west before entering Searcy, the county seat of White County, on the edge of the Central Arkansas region.

Highway 16 enters Searcy from the north, becoming Maple Street, and passing the historic Coward House. The highway crosses Deener Creek and the Searcy Bike Trail near Lions Stadium, home stadium of the Searcy High School football team.[9] The highway curves due east, passing the Wood Freeman House No. 1 and Wood Freeman House No. 2 before becoming Race Avenue and entering downtown. Highway 16 runs as the northern edge of the town square, passing historic commercial structures, the American Legion Hall, and the Rialto Theater. After an intersection with Spring Street, Highway 16 passes the historic Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Jesse N. Cypert Law Office to the north, and the headquarters of First Security Bank to the south. It runs east to Main Street, where the route terminates at US 67B. At the intersection, US 67B turns from Main Street to Race Street eastbound.[22][23]

Major intersections

Mile markers reset at some concurrencies.

County	Location	mi	km	Destinations	Notes
Benton	Siloam Springs	0.00	0.00	US 412 / AR 59 – Springdale, Gravette	Western terminus
		0.50	0.80	AR 16S west (Kenwood Street) – Van Buren, Tulsa, OK	Eastern terminus of AR 16S
Benton–Washington county line	​	9.35	15.05	AR 244 west	Eastern terminus of AR 244
Washington	Savoy	14.66– 15.06	23.59– 24.24	Bridge over the Illinois River
	Fayetteville	24.13	38.83	I-49 (US 62 / US 71) – Fort Smith, Springdale	Exit 64 on I-49; former I-540
				AR 16S east (Wedington Drive) – Fayetteville	Continuation east; former AR 112S
		Gap in route
		0.00	0.00	AR 265 south (Cato Springs Road)	Continuation south
				I-49 south – Fort Smith	Exit 60 on I-49; former I-540
				I-49 north / US 71 – Fayetteville, Springdale	Exit 61 on I-49; exit 60 on US 71
		3.50	5.63	AR 265 north (Crossover Road)	Southern terminus of AR 265
		9.00– 9.10	14.48– 14.65	Bridge over the White River
	Elkins	10.94	17.61	AR 74 east – Huntsville	Western terminus of AR 74
Madison	Crosses	23.93	38.51	AR 295 south	Northern terminus of AR 295
	Combs	30.15	48.52	AR 295 north	Southern terminus of AR 295
	Brashears	32.75	52.71	AR 23 south – Ozark	Western end of AR 23 concurrency
	​	0.00	0.00	AR 23 north – Huntsville	Eastern end of AR 23 concurrency
Newton	Fallsville	25.84	41.59	AR 21 south (Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway) – Clarksville	Western end of AR 21 concurrency
	Edwards Junction	0.00	0.00	AR 21 north (Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway) – Boxley	Eastern end of AR 21 concurrency
	​	13.08	21.05	AR 7 – Jasper, Harrison, Dover, Russellville	Eastern terminus
Gap in route
Pope	Sand Gap	0.00	0.00	AR 7 / AR 123 south to AR 164 – Jasper, Harrison, Dover, Russellville	Western terminus; northern terminus of AR 123
Newton	No major junctions
Pope	No major junctions
Newton	No major junctions
Pope	No major junctions
Searcy	Witts Spring	25.86	41.62	AR 377 north – Snowball	Southern terminus of AR 377
Pope	​	30.77	49.52	AR 27 north – Marshall	Western end of AR 27 concurrency
	​	35.28	56.78	AR 27 south – Russellville, Hector	Eastern end of AR 27 concurrency
Van Buren	Clinton	66.77	107.46	US 65 south – Clinton	Western end of US 65 concurrency
		0.00	0.00	US 65 north – Marshall AR 9 begins	Eastern end of US 65 concurrency; western terminus of AR 9
		0.5	0.80	AR 980 (Airport Road) – Airport
	​	8.99	14.47	AR 110 west – Botkinburg	Eastern terminus of AR 110
	Shirley	9.56	15.39	AR 9 north – Shirley, Mountain View	Eastern end of AR 9 concurrency
	​	11.49	18.49	AR 330 east	Western terminus of AR 330
Cleburne	Greers Ferry	22.17	35.68	AR 92 east – Drasco	Western terminus of AR 92
		22.76	36.63	AR 110 east	Western terminus of AR 110
	Higden	24.47	39.38	AR 336 west	Eastern terminus of AR 336
	Whispering Springs	26.72	43.00	AR 92 west – Bee Branch	Eastern terminus of AR 92
	​	30.95	49.81	AR 225 south – Quitman	Northern terminus of AR 225
	​	38.57	62.07	AR 25 south (AR 107 south) – Quitman, Conway	Western end of AR 25/AR 107 concurrency
	​			AR 107 north to AR 110 – Eden Isle	Eastern end of AR 107 concurrency
	​			AR 5 south – Rose Bud	Western end of AR 5 concurrency
	​	0.00	0.00	AR 5 north / AR 25 north – Heber Springs	Eastern end of AR 5/AR 25 concurrency
	West Pangburn	9.55	15.37	AR 337 north	Southern terminus of AR 337
White	Pangburn	13.14	21.15	AR 124 east – Pleasant Plains	Western terminus of AR 124
	​	17.56	28.26	AR 305 north – Clay	Southern terminus of AR 305
	​	19.01	30.59	AR 310 west – Letona	Eastern terminus of AR 310
	​	25.48	41.01	AR 13	Former AR 371
	Searcy	27.35	44.02	US 67B (Race Street / Main Street)	Eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

Fayetteville spur

Western terminus of Highway 112S (now Highway 16S) at I-540 (now I-49)

Highway 16S
Location	Fayetteville
Length	1.46 mi (2.35 km)
Existed	c. 1971–present

Arkansas Highway 16 Spur is a 1.46-mile-long (2.35 km) highway in Fayetteville.[4] Locally known as Wedington Drive, it begins at I-49/US 62/US 71 as a continuation of Highway 16 and runs east to Highway 112 (Garland Avenue).

The route was designated as a state highway spur route around 1971, known as Highway 112S. It was renumbered to Highway 16S in 2020 as part of a truncation of Highway 112 in Fayetteville.

Siloam Springs spur

Highway 16S ends at US 412/Highway 59 in Siloam Springs.

Highway 16S
Location	Siloam Springs
Length	0.43 mi[1] (690 m)
Existed	1970s–present

Arkansas Highway 16 Spur is an east–west state highway spur route in Siloam Springs. The route of 0.43 miles (0.69 km) runs from US 412/Highway 59 east to Highway 16.[3] Locally posted as East Kenwood Road, it serves as a short connector route for traffic eastbound on US 412 to access eastbound Highway 16 or for traffic westbound on Highway 16 to access westbound US 412.

See also

• Old Highway 16 Bridge, historic bridge along a former alignment of Highway 16 in the Edgemont vicinity

References

1. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (2015). "Arkansas Road Log Database". Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Archived from the original (MDB) on August 29, 2017. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
2. 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 December 30, 2017 – via Arkansas GIS Office.
3. Transportation Planning and Policy Division (July 13, 2015) [July 23, 2010]. General Highway Map, Benton County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. OCLC 908949212. Retrieved January 14, 2018. {{cite map}}: |author= has generic name (help)
4. Transportation Planning and Policy Division (November 4, 2014) [October 21, 2010]. General Highway Map, Washington County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. OCLC 919734758. Retrieved January 14, 2018. {{cite map}}: |author= has generic name (help)
5. City of Fayetteville (August 6, 2011). "Master Street Plan" (PDF) (Map). City Plan 2030. No scale given. Fayetteville: City of Fayetteville. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
6. City of Fayetteville (March 19, 2013). "Wedington Corridor Plan" (PDF). Fayetteville: City of Fayetteville. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
7. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (April 2014). Map of Farmington, Fayetteville, Greenland, and Johnson, Washington County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). c. 1:360. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. §§ G1–G7, J8–J14, K14–K18, L18–L19. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
8. Transportation Planning and Policy Division (June 19, 2014) [December 29, 2003]. General Highway Map, Madison County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. OCLC 914307123. Retrieved January 14, 2018. {{cite map}}: |author= has generic name (help)
9. "Map of Highway 16" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
10. Arkansas Department of Transportation (2017). Pig Trail Scenic Byway (PDF) (Map). No scale given. Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
11. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
12. "ADPT" (2017), pp. 171, 242.
13. "Glory Hole Trail". Buffalo River Chamber of Commerce. 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
14. "ADPT" (2017), pp. 191, 243.
15. Zaslowsky, Dyan (September 12, 1993). "Along Arkansas's Pristine Waterway". The New York Times. New York, New York. ISSN 0362-4331.
16. Arkansas Department of Transportation Department (2017). Highway 21/Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway (PDF) (Map). No scale given. Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
17. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (November 21, 2017). Piney Creeks WMA (PDF) (Map). 1:100,000. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. p. 1. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
18. Transportation Planning and Policy Division (August 21, 2017) [June 19, 2007]. General Highway Map, Pope County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. OCLC 918569164. Retrieved January 14, 2018. {{cite map}}: |author= has generic name (help)
19. Planning and Research Division (August 3, 2007) [October 7, 2002]. General Highway Map, Searcy County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. OCLC 919090848. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
20. Transportation Planning and Policy Division (September 16, 2014) [September 30, 2013]. General Highway Map, Van Buren County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. OCLC 919621384. Retrieved January 5, 2018. {{cite map}}: |author= has generic name (help)
21. Transportation Planning and Policy Division (November 19, 2014). General Highway Map, Cleburne County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. OCLC 910671512. Retrieved January 5, 2018. {{cite map}}: |author= has generic name (help)
22. Transportation Planning and Policy Division (May 2016). Map of Searcy, White County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:360. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. §§ A3, B3–B4. Retrieved January 14, 2018. {{cite map}}: |author= has generic name (help)
23. Transportation Planning and Policy Division (August 21, 2017). General Highway Map, White County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. OCLC 920469539. Retrieved January 4, 2018. {{cite map}}: |author= has generic name (help)

• Staff of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism (2017). Arkansas Adventure Guide. Little Rock, Arkansas: Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. OCLC 46595942.
• "Minutes of the Meeting of the Arkansas State Highway Commission" (PDF). Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway Commission. 1953–1969. OCLC 21798861. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 1, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2017.

External links

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