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Arkansas Highway 612
Highway 612, known as the Springdale Northern Bypass, is the temporary designation of the future U.S. Route 412 (US 412) bypass around Springdale in the U.S. state of Arkansas. It currently consists of a four-lane freeway from a temporary at-grade intersection with Highway 112 in Springdale to an interchange with Interstate 49 (I-49) in Springdale. Once completed, the highway is planned to act as a bypass of US 412 around Springdale, relieving traffic and improving travel between the city and Northwest Arkansas National Airport. The highway is planned to be a four-lane Interstate-standard divided freeway which will eventually be designated as I-42. There is no funding to complete the bypass entirely. Route descriptionAs of 2023[update], Highway 612 begins at a partially completed diamond interchange with Highway 112 within the city limits of Springdale signed as exit 9. The two halves of the roadway come together and become a four-lane freeway traveling east. The highway crosses over Spring Creek and passes to the north of a quarry. The freeway currently ends at a partially completed stack interchange with I-49 and US 71 just outside the limits of Lowell.[1] Once completed, Highway 612 is planned to run from an interchange with US 412 west of Tontitown to US 412 east of Sonora and just west of Beaver Lake. The route will run near the Northwest Arkansas National Airport and bypass Springdale to the north.[citation needed] HistoryConstruction of the highway began in April 2015 after getting funding through a 10-year, half-cent sales tax generated from a 2012 vote.[3] The highway cost $100.6 million and was the most expensive of 36 projects funded by the tax.[4] The first 4.5-mile (7.2 km) section was planned to be finished by mid-2019, but the entire route was completed a year ahead of schedule. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on April 18, 2018, and the highway officially opened to traffic on April 30.[2][5] On October 18, 2018, Highway 612 was designated the "Springdale Officer John T. Hussey Memorial Highway" in honor of the Springdale Police Department officer kidnapped and killed after a traffic stop on December 21, 1975.[6] FutureIn November of 2023, a contract for the extension of US 412 to AR 112 was awarded to Emery Sapp & Sons Inc. for $180.87 million. Construction has begun on the project, and signs warning of the start of construction having already been posted along the highway near Tontitown. The completion of the 6.9-mile project is expected to take approx. 833 days.[7] Another contract for a second portion of the extension, a connection to Northwest Arkansas National Airport, was awarded to Crossland Construction in January of 2024. The contract was bid at $127.67 million and is expected to take approx. 1080 days.[8] Both started April 17th.[9] The remaining segment, a connection from I-49 in Lowell to AR 265, is still in the planning phase.[10] The portion of US 412 from I-49 in Springdale to I-35 in Noble County, Oklahoma is planned to become I-42.[11] On May 25, 2023, a ARDOT announced the proposal of a new north-south route to connect AR 612 near the Northwest Arkansas National Airport to the Bella Vista bypass (I-49) near Centerton.[12] Exit listThe entire route is in Benton County.
See alsoReferences
External linksKML is not from Wikidata
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