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A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ADDITION OF U.S. HIGHWAY 78 DESIGNATION TO PORTIONS OF INTERSTATE 55, INTERSTATE 555, U.S. HIGHWAY 49, STATE HIGHWAY 18, STATE HIGHWAY 18 SPUR, AND STATE HIGHWAY 226 FROM MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE THROUGH WEST MEMPHIS, BLYTHEVILLE AND JONESBORO TO FUTURE INTERSTATE 57
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WHEREAS, Arkansas State Highway 18 has recently been upgraded to a four-lane highway between the Interstate 55 interchange in Blytheville and Arkansas State Highway 18 Spur in Jonesboro; and
WHEREAS, the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) has funded a project to widen State Highway 18 Spur to four lanes from State Highway 18 to Interstate 555, in Jonesboro; and
WHEREAS, Arkansas Highway 226 and U.S. Highway 49 have been widened to a four-lane divided highway between Jonesboro and U.S. Highway 67 (Future Interstate 57); and
WHEREAS, these routes connect two existing interstate highways and a future interstate highway in Northeast Arkansas as shown on Exhibit “A”; and
WHEREAS, these routes are included in ARDOT’s Four-lane Grid System which provides for safe and efficient interstate and intrastate movement of people and goods, including connectivity to population centers and to other regional transportation facilities within Arkansas and in neighboring states; and
WHEREAS, Arkansas State Highway 18 and Arkansas State Highway 226 are two of only six state highways included on ARDOT’s Four-lane Grid System, the remaining highways being Interstate Highways or U.S. Routes; and
WHEREAS, many existing State and Federal Highways are designated with more than one route number; and
WHEREAS, it is logical and in the best interest of Northeast Arkansas to concurrently sign portions of Interstates 55 and 555, U.S. Highway 49 and State Highways 18, 18 Spur and 226 as U.S. Highway 78.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE JONESBORO CITY COUNCIL HEREBY REQUEST THAT THE ARKANSAS STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION:
1. Seek approval from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to designate the portions of the aforementioned routes, as shown on Exhibit “A”, as part of U.S. Highway 78; and
2. Allow the existing State and Federal Highway Route numbers to remain in place resulting in dually signed highway routes to benefit those who currently live along this route and to avoid unnecessary hardships associated with address changes.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 15TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2023.