Arkansas Highway 5
Arkansas Highway 5 is a designation for three List of [state highways in Arkansas|state highway]s in Arkansas. The southern segment of runs from U.S. [Route 70 in Arkansas|U.S. Route 70] east of Hot Springs north to Interstate 430 in Little Rock.
A northern segment of runs from I-57 in Cabot north to the Missouri state line, including a lengthy overlap with Highway 25 between Heber Springs and Wolf Bayou. A portion of this route is designated as part of the Sylamore Scenic Byway. This segment also contained a former spur route in Mountain Home.
The Main Street Bridge in Little Rock carries a third, unsigned, Highway 5 designation. The bridge is in span.
All three routes are maintained by the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
Route description
Hot Springs to Little Rock
Highway 5 begins at an interchange with US 70 and US 70B east of Hot Springs as a two-lane freeway. The route meets Highway 7 in Fountain Lake at a roundabout and continues to northeast as a surface road. In the city of Fountain Lake, Highway 5 has a junction with Highway 128 before entering Saline County and Hot Springs Village. Continuing east, the route serves as the southern terminus for Highway 9 at Crows. Northwest of Benton, Highway 5 has a junction with Highway 298 before entering the city and passing several residential subdivisions. Near Saline Memorial Hospital, the route has a junction with I-30/U.S. [Route 67 in Arkansas|US 67]/US 70 and Highway 35. Highway 5 runs east as a frontage road paralleling I-30 toward Little Rock. Highway 35 runs south toward downtown Benton and eventually Sheridan and Monticello.The route passes the Hester-Lenz House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, prior to the Bryant city limits. An intersection with Highway 183 near the historic Andrew Hunter House gives access to downtown Bryant as well as I-30. Continuing east, Highway 5 intersects Highway 835 which leads to the Alexander branch of the Arkansas Department of Human Services's Youth Service Center, after which it enters Pulaski County.
The route meets Otter Creek Road and Highway 338, both collector roads for I-30/US 67/US 70 in southwest Little Rock. Entering a suburban area, Highway 5 terminates at an interchange with I-430 and US 70.
Main Street Bridge
The Main Street Bridge in Little Rock carries a hidden Highway 5 designation. The route is in span and multi-lane divided.Cabot to Missouri
The route begins just south of I-57/US 67/US 167 at Highway 321 and Highway 367 in Cabot and runs north to cross Highway 89 and Highway 319. Highway 5 continues north to meet US 64 south of El Paso and Highway 310 near Romance. Highway 5 and Highway 310 form a concurrency that runs until Highway 36 in Rose Bud. The route continues north to Heber Springs, where it begins to concur with Highway 16/Highway 25.Highway 5 leaves Highway 25 near Wolf Bayou, when Highway 5 begins to run with Highway 87, named Mountain View Road. The two routes meet Highway 14 in front of the Stone County Medical Center in south Mountain View. Highway 5/Highway 14/Highway 87 run briefly west to Sylamore Avenue, when they meet Highway 9. Highway 5/Highway 9/Highway 14 run north through town to Allison, when Highway 5 continues northward alone. Passing through the Ozark National Forest, Highway 5 emerges near Calico Rock. The route takes a turn northwest, concurring with Highway 177 near Norfork. Highway 5 crosses U.S. [Route 62 in Arkansas|US 62] southeast of Mountain Home. The route becomes 9th Street, meeting US 62B and Highway 201 in downtown Mountain Home. Highway 5 continues northwest to Midway, after which it heads north to the Missouri state line, where it continues as Missouri Route 5.
Missouri Route 5 runs entirely across Missouri and eventually becomes Iowa Highway 5.
History
Highway 5 was created in 1926 as one of the state highway numbering|original numbered state highways] in Arkansas. At time of creation, Highway 5 did not extend south of Little Rock. The segment between Little Rock and Benton is the former alignment of US 67/US 70 in that area and was re-designated as Highway 5 upon completion of the freeway segment of US 67/US 70 in 1955.The Arkansas [State Highway Commission] truncated Highway 5 at I-430 and renumbered the remainder of Stagecoach Road as US 70 on December 9, 2021 in a deal with the cities of Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Pulaski County to cover the relocation costs for Rock Region Metro as part of the "30 Crossing" project on I-30.