Arkansas Highway 38 (AR 38) is a designation for three state highways in Arkansas. One segment of 50.2 miles (80.8 km) runs from Interstate 57 (I-57) in Cabot east to U.S. Route 49 (US 49) south of Hunter.[2][3] A second segment of 21.47 miles (34.55 km) runs from I-40 north of Widener east to Highway 147 west of Horseshoe Lake.[4][5] A third segment of 0.8 miles (1.3 km) runs in West Memphis from US 70 north to I-40. All routes are maintained by the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD).

Highway 38 marker
Highway 38
Route information
Maintained by ArDOT
Existed1926–present
Section 1
Length50.2 mi[1] (80.8 km)
West end I-57 / US 67 / US 167 in Cabot
East end US 49 near Hunter
Section 2
Length21.47 mi[1] (34.55 km)
West end I-40 / CR 419 near Widener
Major intersections
East end AR 147 near Horseshoe Lake
Section 3
Length0.8 mi[1] (1,300 m)
South end US 70 in West Memphis
Major intersections I-55 / US 61 / US 64 / US 78 / US 79 in West Memphis
North end I-40 in West Memphis
Location
CountryUnited States
StateArkansas
CountiesLonoke, Prairie, Woodruff, St. Francis, Crittenden
Highway system
AR 37 AR 39
Highway 38 at the intersection of Highway 31 south of Beebe

Route description

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Cabot to Hunter

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Highway 38 begins at I-57/US 67/US 167 in Cabot before intersecting Highway 367. The highway connects agricultural areas in Arkansas's Grand Prairie, including rice and soybeans as well as aquaculture. Passing east through Austin, where it has an intersection with Highway 319. The intersection is near the Sears House, an 1860 antebellum home in late Greek Revival-Italianate style listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).[6][7] Continuing east, Highway 38 runs through unincorporated area in eastern Lonoke County, intersecting Highway 321 near Sylvania and Highway 31 near Butlerville before entering Prairie County.[2]

 
White River at Des Arc, with Highway 38 passing over on the bridge in the background

Upon entering Prairie County, Highway 38 continues to pass through rural, agricultural areas with small settlements at intersections with other state highways. The highway intersects Highway 13 at Hickory Plains, Highway 86 at Hayley, and Highway 11 at Fourmile Corner. Highway 11 begins a concurrency with Highway 38 eastward toward Des Arc, the county seat for the northern district of Prairie County.[a 1] Entering Des Arc, Highway 38 and Highway 11 intersect Highway 323 near the Lower White River Museum State Park. Highway 323 runs to the downtown business district, with Highway 38 turning northeast and bypassing most of the city. In northern Des Arc, the concurrency with Highway 11 ends, with Highway 11 turning due north toward the Bayou De View Wildlife Management Area and Searcy. This intersection also contains Highway 323Y, which is a short spur route providing access to downtown Des Arc. Highway 38 continues along the northern edge of Des Arc, passing the historic Oak Grove Cemetery, listed on the NRHP, and crossing over the White River on a 1970 steel through truss bridge. Highway 33 overlaps Highway 38 in eastern Prairie County until the Woodruff County line, when Highway 33 turns north toward Augusta, ending the concurrency.[a 2][9]

Running east as a section line road, Highway 38 enters Woodruff County at Little Dixie and runs east to Cotton Plant. Serving as Main Street in Cotton Plant, the highway passes intersects Highway 306 before beginning a short overlap with Highway 17 through historic downtown Cotton Plant. East of the city, Highway 38 briefly dips into Monroe County and crosses Bayou DeView before terminating US 49 south of Hunter.[3]

History

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The route from Des Arc to Cotton Plant was originally designated as part of Arkansas State Road B-7 in the original 1924 state highway plan.[10] This route ran north from the Stuttgart area to Cotton Plant via Des Arc, roughly along present-day US 63, Highway 11 and Highway 38. During the 1926 Arkansas state highway numbering, the Highway 38 designation was assigned to the short connector highway between Des Arc and Cotton Plant. The route was extended west to Cabot in the late 1930s. A minor routing change west of Hughes involving a new bridge over Blackfish Bayou occurred in 1956.[11]

Highway 38 was extended east in 1958 following the construction of a new US 79 alignment in Hughes. Highway 38 was extended east, creating an overlap with Highway 50 and terminating at Highway 147 near Horseshoe Lake.[12] The area around Horseshoe Lake with Highway 38 and Highway 147 was renumbered in 1959 "for the convenience and guidance of the traveling public".[13] This rerouting was changed in 1963 to "eliminate confusion" near Horseshoe Lake, resulting in the creation of Highway 131 and rerouting Highway 147.[14]

Major intersections

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Mile markers reset at some concurrencies.

CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
LonokeCabot0.00.0    I-57 / US 67 / US 167 – Beebe, Little RockWestern terminus; exit 21 on I-57
0.60.97  AR 367 – Cabot, Austin, BeebeFormer US 67
Ward3.04.8 
 
AR 319 north – Ward
Southern terminus of AR 319
5.08.0 
 
AR 321 south
Northern terminus of AR 321
8.213.2  AR 31 – Beebe, Lonoke
PrairieHickory Plains16.326.2  AR 13 – Beebe, Carlisle
Hayley21.134.0 
 
AR 86 east
Western terminus of AR 86
Fourmile Corner26.743.0 
 
AR 11 south – Hazen, Wattensaw Wildlife Management Area
Western end of AR 11 concurrency
Des Arc29.347.2 
 
AR 323 south – Des Arc Business District, Lower White River Museum State Park
Northern terminus of AR 323
29.848.0 
 
 
 
AR 11 north to AR 323 – Searcy, Des Arc Business District, Lake Des Arc
Eastern end of AR 11 concurrency; access to AR 323 via AR 323Y
30.7–
30.9
49.4–
49.7
Bridge over the White River
32.752.6 
 
AR 33 south – Biscoe
Western end of AR 33 concurrency
PrairieWoodruff
county line
Little Dixie39.463.4 
 
AR 33 north – Augusta
Eastern end of AR 33 concurrency
WoodruffCotton Plant45.573.2 
 
AR 306 east
Western terminus of AR 306
45.673.4 
 
AR 17 south – Brinkley
Western end of AR 17 concurrency
0.00.0 
 
AR 17 north – Patterson
Eastern end of AR 17 concurrency
Monroe
No major junctions
Woodruff4.67.4  US 49 – Fair Oaks, BrinkleyEastern terminus
Gap in route
St. Francis0.000.00  CR 419Continuation north
0.210.34  I-40 – Memphis, Little RockExit 247 on I-40
0.530.85  US 70 – Memphis, Madison
Widener2.443.93 
 
AR 50 west
Western end of AR 50 concurrency
 
 
AR 75 north
Southern terminus of AR 75
0.000.00 
 
 
 
AR 50 east to AR 149 – Wildwood
Eastern end of AR 50 concurrency
Hughes11.2618.12 
 
US 79 south – Marianna
Western end of US 79 concurrency
0.000.00 
 
US 79 north – West Memphis
Eastern end of US 79 concurrency
0.550.89 
 
AR 149 north (Blackwood Street)
Southern terminus of AR 149
Crittenden7.7712.50  AR 147 (Horseshoe Circle)Eastern terminus
Gap in route
West Memphis0.00.0  US 70 (Broadway Avenue)Southern terminus
0.30.48  I-55 (US 61 / US 64 / US 78 / US 79) – Little Rock, MemphisExit 4 on I-55
0.81.3  I-40 – Little Rock, MemphisNorthern terminus; exit 280 on I-40
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 Arkansas highways normally terminate when intersected by a route of greater importance, Highway 38 in Prairie County does not end when intersecting Highway 11 near Des Arc.[8]
  2. ^ Although Arkansas highways normally terminate when intersected by a route of greater importance, Highway 38 in Prairie County does not end when intersecting Highway 33 in eastern Prairie County.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Planning and Research Division (March 28, 2012). "Arkansas Road Log Database". Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Archived from the original (MBD) on June 23, 2011. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  2. ^ a b General Highway Map, Lonoke County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2015-02-17. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  3. ^ a b General Highway Map, Woodruff County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. September 29, 2000. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  4. ^ General Highway Map, Lonoke County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. December 15, 2007. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  5. ^ General Highway Map, Crittenden County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. January 2, 2007. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  6. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  7. ^ "NRHP nomination for Sears House" (PDF). Arkansas Preservation. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  8. ^ a b Route and Section Map (PDF) (Map) (Prairie County ed.). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  9. ^ General Highway Map, Prairie County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2014-04-03. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  10. ^ Map of State of Arkansas Showing System of Primary and Secondary Federal Aid Roads and Connecting State Roads and Progress of Improvements (Map) (1924-12-31 ed.). Arkansas State Highway Commission. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
  11. ^ "Minute Order 1261" (PDF). Minutes of the Meeting. ASHC. 1956-01-25. p. 1830. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-10-01. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
  12. ^ "Minute Order 2708" (PDF). Minutes of the Meeting. ASHC. 1958-05-07. p. 1618. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-10-01. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
  13. ^ "Minute Order 3145" (PDF). Minutes of the Meeting. ASHC. 1959-03-04. pp. 1438–1439. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-10-01. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
  14. ^ "Minute Order 5299" (PDF). Minutes of the Meeting. ASHC. 1963-10-30. pp. 1009–1010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-10-01. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
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