Old photo of Highway 5 and Highway 7 junction near Hot Springs, the former southern terminus. This junction was replaced by a roundabout in 2023 to connect to the new Hot Springs Bypass extension.
I-30/US 67/US 70/AR 5 run northeast past the Congo Rd exit before Highway 5 exits onto the frontage road and onto Military Rd, ending the concurrency. The highway passes the Hester-Lenz House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), prior to the Bryant city limits.[9] Upon entering Bryant, Highway 5 runs parallel to I-30/US 67/US 70 approximately 0.5 miles (0.80 km) north of the limited-access highway. An intersection with Highway 183 (Reynolds Rd) near the historic Andrew Hunter House gives access to downtown Bryant as well as the freeway.[9] Continuing east, Highway 5 intersects Highway 835 (Woody Dr) which leads to the Alexander branch of the Arkansas Department of Human Services's Youth Service Center, after which it enters Pulaski County.[10]
Highway 5, Highway 9 and Highway 14 near Mountain View
AR 5 leaves AR 25 near Wolf Bayou, when AR 5 begins to run with AR 87, named Mountain View Road. The two routes meet AR 14 in front of the Stone County Medical Center in south Mountain View.[12] AR 5/AR 14/AR 87 run briefly west to Sylamore Avenue, when they meet AR 9. AR 5/AR 9/AR 14 run north through town to Allison, when AR 5 continues northward alone. Passing through the Ozark National Forest, AR 5 emerges near Calico Rock.[13] The route takes a turn northwest, concurring with AR 177 near Norfork. Entering Mountain Home, AR 5 crosses US 62 southeast of town. AR 5 becomes 9th Street, meeting US 412/US 62 BUS/AR 101 in downtown Mountain Home. The route continues northwest to Midway, after which it heads north to the Missouri state line. AR 5 terminates at 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 original numbered state highways in Arkansas.[14] At time of creation, AR 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 (now I-30) in 1955.[15]
The Arkansas State Highway Commission truncated AR 5 at I-430 and renumbered the remainder of Old 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.[16][17]
Connection to Hot Springs Bypass extension
In 2023, a freeway was completed, connecting Highway 5 directly to the Hot Springs Bypass. Highway 5 now begins at an interchange with US 70 and US 70B east of Hot Springs and continues north to where it meets Highway 7 in Fountain Lake. The new section was originally scheduled to open in fall 2022; however, the national supply chain crisis delayed the project. Issues with a retaining wall also contributed to the delay, moving the completion date to September 18, 2023. The roadway is a two-lane freeway.[18]
^ abcdefSystem Information and Research Division (2015). "Arkansas Road Log Database"(MDB). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
^ abGeneral Highway Map, Garland County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. December 18, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
^ abTransportation Planning and Policy Division (September 6, 2022) [May 3, 2004]. General Highway Map, Pulaski County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. OCLC918901127. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
^General Highway Map, Saline County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. October 20, 2010. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
^"Map of State of Arkansas Showing System of Primary and Secondary Federal Aid Roads and Connecting State Roads and Progress of Improvements." 1926. Arkansas State Highway Department. Map.Archived July 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved March 12, 2011.
^Tudor, Lorie H. (January 19, 2021). "Minute Order 2020-111"(PDF). Administrative Circular 2021-02. Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. pp. 9–10. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
US 70 / US 70B north of Hot Springs
AR 321 / AR 367 in Cabot
Route 5 at the Missouri state line
