| State: | AR |
| Type: | AR |
| Map: | Arkansas 5.png |
| Route: | 5 |
| Established: | 1926 |
| Length Ref1: | [1] |
| Section1: | Southern segment |
| Length Mi1: | 45.84 |
| Direction A1: | West |
| Direction B1: | East |
| Terminus A1: | near Hot Springs |
| Junction1: |
|
| Terminus B1: | in Little Rock |
| Section2: | Main Street Bridge segment |
| Length Mi2: | 0.38 |
| Direction A2: | South |
| Direction B2: | North |
| Terminus A2: | Scott Street in Little Rock |
| Terminus B2: | Main Street in North Little Rock |
| Section3: | Northern segment |
| Length Mi3: | 146.63 |
| Direction A3: | South |
| Direction B3: | North |
| Terminus A3: | in Cabot |
| Junction3: |
|
| Terminus B3: | at the Missouri state line |
| Previous Type: | AR |
| Previous Route: | 4 |
| Next Type: | AR 1926 |
| Next Route: | 6 |
| Counties: | Garland, Saline, Pulaski, Lonoke, White, Cleburne, Stone, Izard, Baxter |
Arkansas Highway 5 (AR 5) is a designation for three state highways in Arkansas. The southern segment of 45.84miles runs from U.S. Route 70 (US 70) east of Hot Springs north to Interstate 430 (I-430) in Little Rock.[2] [3]
A northern segment of 146.63miles 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.[4] [5] [6] A portion of this route is designated as part of the Sylamore Scenic Byway.[7] 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 0.38miles in span.
All three routes are maintained by the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT).
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/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.[8]
The route passes the Hester-Lenz House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), prior to the Bryant city limits. An intersection with Highway 183 (Reynolds Rd) near the historic Andrew Hunter House gives access to downtown Bryant as well as I-30. Continuing east, Highway 5 intersects Highway 835 (Woody Drive) which leads to the Alexander branch of the Arkansas Department of Human Services's Youth Service Center, after which it enters Pulaski County.[9]
The route meets Otter Creek Road and Highway 338 (Baseline Road), 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.
The Main Street Bridge in Little Rock carries a hidden Highway 5 designation. The route is 0.38miles in span and multi-lane divided.
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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12] The route takes a turn northwest, concurring with Highway 177 near Norfork. Highway 5 crosses 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.
Highway 5 was created in 1926 as one of the original numbered state highways in Arkansas.[13] 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 (now I-30) in 1955.[14]
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.[15]
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.[16]