Special routes of U.S. Route 71

A total of ten special routes of U.S. Route 71 exist, and another ten previously existed.

Special routes of U.S. Route 71
Highway system
United States Numbered Highway System List Special Divided

Alexandria bypass

U.S. Highway 71 Bypass
Location	Alexandria, Louisiana

Bypass US 71 is a controlled access highway at Alexandria, Louisiana. Its northern terminus is an interchange with Interstate 49 and US 71 and US 165 north of Alexandria. Its southern terminus is at an interchange with I-49 and US 71/US 167 south of Alexandria. Bypass 71 runs a total distance of approximately six miles (9.7 km) and runs concurrently with I-49 its whole length. It is signed at both the north and south termini as By-Pass US 71.

Waldron business route

U.S. Highway 71B
Location	Waldron, Arkansas
Length	6.32 mi^[1] (10.17 km)

 

US 71B in Waldron

Business US 71 in Waldron runs approximately seven miles (11 km) beginning at US 71 2 +1/2^{[convert: unknown unit]} north of Waldron and ending at US 71 4+1⁄2 miles (7.2 km) south of Waldron. Signed locally as Main Street, it was created in 1971 after US 71 was rerouted around the west side of town.

Fort Smith business loop

U.S. Highway 71B
Location	Fort Smith, Arkansas
Length	13.2 mi^[2] (21.2 km)

US 71 Business runs approximately 13 miles (21 km) between Alma and Fort Smith, Arkansas. Its northern terminus is at I-40 and US 71 at Alma and its southern terminus is at I-540 and US 71 in south Fort Smith. US 71 Bus. passes through the towns of Alma, Van Buren and Fort Smith. One half mile south of I-40 at Alma, US 71 Bus. intersects US 64 and overlaps it to downtown Fort Smith and the junction of Arkansas Highway 22.

Within the city of Fort Smith, US 71 Bus. is commonly referred to by the names of Midland Boulevard (north of downtown), North 10th (one-way north-to-south) and North 11th Streets (one-way south-to-north) within downtown, Towson Avenue (south of downtown) and Zero Street (beginning at the intersection of US 271 and AR 255).

Northwest Arkansas business route

U.S. Highway 71B
Location	Northwest Arkansas
Length	21.376 mi^[3]^[4] (34.401 km)
Existed	May 27, 1970^[5]–present

U.S. Route 71 Business (US 71B) in Northwest Arkansas is a business route of US 71 that spans 21.376 miles (34.401 km).^[3][4]

US 71B begins at AR 112 (Garland Avenue) in Fayetteville, the southernmost principal city of the Northwest Arkansas region. The runs east as the J. William Fulbright Expressway with access to I-49 (as well as unsigned US 71 and US 62). US 71B passes the Washington Regional Medical Center on its way through uptown Fayetteville as a controlled-access highway, with exits signed for Gregg Avenue and College Avenue. The expressway ends and Highway 71B becomes College Avenue heading north, a four-lane divided highway. A junction with Joyce Boulevard is signed for access to I-49/US 62/US 62 via a jughandle intersection. Continuing north, US 71B passes the Northwest Arkansas Mall and Lake Fayetteville prior to entering Springdale.^[6]

 

US 71B joins US 412 northbound at Robinson Avenue in Springdale.

Now known as Thompson Street, US 71B is a principal arterial in Springdale; passing the Springdale Country Club, intersecting Don Tyson Parkway, and crossing under the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad tracks before a junction with US 412 (Robinson Avenue). A concurrency begins northward, with US 412/US 71B keeping the Thompson Avenue designation. After a short distance, US 412 turns west onto Sunset Avenue, with US 71B continuing north as Thompson Street into a commercial area of Springdale. The road passes Murphy Park, Springdale High School, and junctions with Emma Avenue just west of the Springdale Poultry Industry Historic District. North of the junction with Emma Avenue, US 71B passes the Springdale Public Schools Administrative Offices and passes over the Northwest Arkansas Razorback Regional Greenway and Spring Creek before entering Benton County.^[7]

US 71B passes the Beasley Homestead (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) shortly before serving as the western terminus of a segment of Highway 264.

US 71B becomes Bloomington Street in Lowell as it continues north to AR 94 (New Hope Road). Entering Rogers, US 71B meets US 62/AR 12 and becomes Walnut Street and turns east. The route passes St. Mary's Hospital and Dixieland Mall and crosses to I-49 as it enters Bentonville.

History
US 71B was created by the Arkansas State Highway Commission on May 27, 1970. The designation followed the historic alignment of US 71 through Fayetteville, with the mainline US 71 designation moved to the bypass,^[5] which would become I-540 in 2000 and I-49 in 2014.

The highway was truncated in Bentonville from the former northern terminus (I-49, US 71 and AR 549) to an intersection of SW Regional Airport Boulevard and Walton Boulevard (colloquially known as Rainbow Curve) in 2018.^[8] In late 2019, most of the alignment in Fayetteville was transferred to city maintenance. The agreement allowed Fayetteville to construct a redesign without seeking ARDOT approval for the changes.^[9][10]

Major intersections

County	Location	mi^[1]^[3]^[4]	km	Destinations	Notes
Washington	Fayetteville	0.000	0.000	AR 112 (Garland Avenue) – Fayetteville, University of Arkansas, Tontitown, Cave Springs	Southern terminus
		0.5	0.80	I-49 / US 62 / US 71 – Fort Smith, Joplin, MO
		1.3	2.1	Gregg Avenue	Access to Gregg Avenue via Futrall Drive (northbound) and Shiloh Drive (southbound)
		1.65	2.66	College Avenue south	Expressway ends, roadway becomes College Avenue heading north
				Joyce Boulevard           To I-49 / US 71 / US 62 (Fulbright Expressway)	Northbound has jughandle entrance to Fulbright Expressway
	Springdale			To US 412 east (Robinson Avenue) – Huntsville	US Highway 412Y
				US 412 east (Thompson Street) – Huntsville	Southern end of US 412 concurrency
		10.80	17.38	US 412 west (Sunset Avenue) – Siloam Springs	Northern end of US 412 concurrency
Benton		14.30	23.01	AR 264 east	AR 264 western terminus
				AR 612 (Springdale Northern Bypass)
	Lowell	16.29	26.22	AR 264 west (Monroe Avenue) to I-49 – Cave Springs	AR 264 eastern terminus
	Rogers			AR 94 east (New Hope Road) – Monte Ne	Southern end of AR 94 concurrency
				Olrich Street east	Former AR 102
				Poplar Street east	Former AR 12 and AR 94
				AR 94 west (8th Street) to US 62 / AR 12	Northern end of AR 94 concurrency
	Rogers–Bentonville line	19.895	32.018	I-49 / US 71 / US 62 – Springdale, Fayetteville
	Bentonville	21.376	34.401	End state manintenance, roadway continues as Walton Boulevard	Northern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access       Unopened

Pineville–Anderson business loop

U.S. Route 71 Business
Location	Pineville–Anderson, Missouri
Length	12.7 mi^[11] (20.4 km)
Existed	2005–present

Business Loop 71 is an alternate alignment of U.S. Route 71 in southwest Missouri. Its northern terminus is at a partial interchange with I-49/US 71 approximately 7 miles (11 km) north of Anderson. Its southern terminus is an at-grade intersection with US 71 and Wolf Den Road (also known as McDonald County Road 71-22B SW) approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Pineville. In Anderson, Business 71 runs concurrently with Route 59 for approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) and Route 76 for 2 miles (3.2 km). Business 71 was originally created in 2005 running from 7 miles (11 km) north of Anderson to 2 miles (3.2 km) south of town at an at-grade intersection with US 71. In 2007, it was extended along the former US 71 in Pineville after a new freeway section was built bypassing the town.

Savannah business loop

U.S. Route 71 Business
Location	Savannah, Missouri
Length	8.8 mi^[12] (14.2 km)

Maryville business loop

U.S. Route 71 Business
Location	Maryville, Missouri
Length	5.1 mi^[13] (8.2 km)

Business 71 is a former alignment of US 71 through Maryville, Missouri. Running a distance of approximately 5 miles (8.0 km), its southern terminus is at US 71 south of Maryville. Its northern terminus is an intersection with US 71 and US 136 north of Maryville.

Clarinda business loop

U.S. Highway 71 Business
Location	Clarinda, Iowa
Length	2.6 mi^[14] (4.2 km)

U.S. Route 71 Business is a former alignment of US 71 through Clarinda, Iowa. It begins at the junction of U.S. Route 71 and Iowa Highway 2 in southern Clarinda. Then, it follows 16th Street (Glenn Miller Avenue) towards downtown Clarinda. At Washington Street, US 71 Business meets Iowa 2 Business, and both routes continue east, eventually leaving Clarinda. East of Clarinda, US 71 Bus./IA 2 Bus. intersect US 71. US 71 Business ends while Iowa 2 Business continues south to complete its business loop. The entire route is in Clarinda, Page County.

mi	km	Destinations	Notes
		US 71 / Iowa 2
		Iowa 2 Business west	Southern end of IA 2 Bus. overlap
		US 71 / Iowa 2 Business east	Northern end of IA 2 Bus. overlap
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

Storm Lake business loop

U.S. Highway 71 Business
Location	Storm Lake, Iowa
Length	10.6 mi^[15] (17.1 km)

U.S. Route 71 Business is a former alignment of US 71 in Storm Lake, Iowa. It begins at the junction of U.S. Route 71 and Iowa Highway 7. It follows Iowa 7 into Storm Lake along Lakeshore Drive, Flindt Drive, and Milwaukee Avenue. At Lake Avenue, US 71 Business turns north, leaving Iowa 7, where it eventually leaves Storm Lake. Near Truesdale, US 71 Bus. turns east and rejoins US 71. The entire route is in Buena Vista County.

Location	mi	km	Destinations	Notes
Storm Lake			US 71 / Iowa 7 west	Southern end of IA 7 overlap
			Iowa 7 west (Milwaukee Avenue)	Northern end of IA 7 overlap
Truesdale			US 71
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

Willmar business loop

U.S. Highway 71 Business
Location	Willmar, Minnesota
Length	5.5 mi^[16] (8.9 km)

Trunk Highway 23 Business
Location	Willmar, Minnesota
Length	5.5 mi^[17] (8.9 km)

U.S. Highway 71 Business (US 71 Bus.), which is completely concurrent with State Highway 23 Business (MN 23 Bus.) is a city-maintained business loop through the city of Willmar, Minnesota.

The entire route is in Willmar, Kandiyohi County.

mi	km	Destinations	Notes
		US 71 south / MN 23 west – Olivia, Granite Falls	Southern/western terminus
		To US 12 (Litchfield Avenue) – Downtown
		CSAH 24 west (26th Avenue NE) 23rd Street NE east	Former MN 294; Also access to Ridgewater College, Kandiyohi County Health & Human Services Building
		US 71 north / MN 23 east	Access to northbound US 71/eastbound MN 23 only
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Incomplete access

Former routes

I-49 business routes

On December 12, 2012, a portion of US 71 in Missouri was designated as Interstate 49. Four US 71 business routes that connected to the affected section of US 71 were redesignated as I-49 business routes:

• Neosho, Missouri
• Joplin, Missouri
• Nevada, Missouri
• Butler, Missouri

Alexandria business loop

U.S. Highway 71 Business
Location	Alexandria, Louisiana
Existed	1945–1975

Business 71 is a former alignment of US 71 in Alexandria. It followed the original routing of US 71 before the construction of Alexandria's current highway system. It began at an intersection with Lee Street and MacArthur Drive, and followed Lee Street. It turned west at an intersection with LA 1, following Bolton Avenue to US 165. It was deleted in the mid-1970s.

Joplin business loop

Not to be confused with U.S. Route 71 Business (Joplin-Webb City, Missouri).

U.S. Route 71 Business
Location	Joplin, Missouri
Existed	by 1945–ca. 1979

US 71 Bus. followed 32nd Street (Route FF), Main Street (Route 43), Broadway Street, St. Louis Avenue, Euclid Avenue, Utica Street, Florida Avenue, and Zora Street through downtown Joplin. From Main Street to Zora Street was originally the 1926 alignment of U.S Route 66. The part of US 71 that it looped off of is now I-49 Bus. The Joplin business loop was the first such route in Missouri; all others at the time were "city" routes.^[18]

Joplin alternate

U.S. Route 71 Alternate
Location	Joplin, Missouri

 

Former Alternate US 71 near Carthage, Missouri. This section is now a frontage road ("outer road" in Missouri) of US 71.

Alternate US 71 was a former special route which provided an alternate route for US 71 between Carthage and Neosho, Missouri, bypassing Joplin. Both endpoints were junctions with US 71. This section of road from Fidelity to Carthage was originally Route 38, renumbered Route 38N in about 1930.

At Carthage, Alternate US 71 followed what is currently Route 571 to US 71 at what is now the intersection of Route 96/Route 571. When the freeway was built around Carthage, it ended at that the current exit of 71 at Route 96/571 and Business US 71.

In 1999, the Alternate 71 designation was deleted. The section north of Interstate 44 at Fidelity was redesignated US 71, with the former US 71 being designated Business 71. South of Interstate 44, it continues as Route 59 to U.S. Route 60. From there it followed US 60 to Neosho. Other than its endpoints, only two towns were located on the former highway: Fidelity, Missouri and Diamond, Missouri.

The road was originally assigned at Optional US 71 in 1932 and changed to Alternate US 71 in 1935.

Kansas City bypass

U.S. Route 71 Bypass
Location	Kansas City, Missouri
Length	59.0 mi^[19] (95.0 km)
Existed	1932–1969

U.S. Route 71 Bypass was the original name for a highway that connected Harrisonville, Missouri, to just south of Platte City, where it rejoined US 71 near Kansas City International Airport. When I-29 was opened in the mid-1960s, it was renumbered Route 291.

At Lee's Summit, Missouri, it connects to I-470. It remains concurrent with the Interstate, until I-470 terminates at I-70. Route 291 continues to the north after its junction with I-70. The route has been rerouted several times, and has seen improvements over the years, and continues to be a major highway in eastern Jackson County, Missouri. In Platte and Clay Counties, it also is known as Cookingham Drive, and Mid Continent Trafficway.

St. Joseph business loop

U.S. Route 71 Business
Location	St. Joseph, Missouri

Platte City bypass

U.S. Route 71 Bypass
Location	Platte City, Missouri

References

1. "[Arkansas] State Highways 2009 (Database)." April 2010. AHTD: Planning and Research Division. Mileage includes flyover of 1.83 miles (2.95 km) serving I-540/US 71/US 62 Database. July 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved June 5, 2011.
2. Google (December 19, 2022). "Overview map of US 71 Business (Fort Smith, AR)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
3. Transportation Planning and Policy Division (November 6, 2020). State Highway Route and Section Map, Washington County (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Geographic Information Systems & Mapping Section. Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2020. {{cite map}}: |author= has generic name (help)
4. Transportation Planning and Policy Division (August 27, 2020). State Highway Route and Section Map, Benton County (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Geographic Information Systems & Mapping Section. Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2020. {{cite map}}: |author= has generic name (help)
5. "Minutes of the Meeting" (PDF). Arkansas State Highway Commission. May 27, 1970. p. 1624. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
6. Transportation Planning and Policy Division (August 2020). Map of Farmington, Fayetteville, Greenland and Johnson, Washington County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:12,000. Cartography by Geographic Information Systems & Mapping Section. Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation. § A11, B11, C11, D9-11. Retrieved January 2, 2021. {{cite map}}: |author= has generic name (help)
7. Transportation Planning and Policy Division (January 17, 2019) [October 21, 2010]. General Highway Map, Washington County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. OCLC 919734758. Retrieved January 2, 2021. {{cite map}}: |author= has generic name (help)
8. Gute, Melissa (October 29, 2018). "Walton Boulevard to become Bentonville's responsibility". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Little Rock: WEHCO Media. ISSN 1060-4332. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
9. Ryburn, Stacy (September 2, 2019). "Fayetteville, ArDOT reach agreement on future of U.S. 71B". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Little Rock: WEHCO Media. ISSN 1060-4332. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
10. O'Neill, Kelly (December 18, 2019). "Fayetteville City Council moves forward with 71B corridor plan". KNWA. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
11. Google (February 1, 2023). "Overview map of US 71 Business (Pineville–Anderson, MO)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
12. Google (January 8, 2023). "Overview map of US 71 Business (Savannah, MO)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
13. Google (December 19, 2022). "Overview map of US 71 Business" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
14. Google (February 28, 2023). "Overview map of US 71 Business (Clarinda, IA)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
15. Google (February 28, 2023). "Overview map of US 71 Business (Storm Lake, IA)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
16. Google (December 19, 2022). "Overview map of US 71 Business" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
17. Google (December 19, 2022). "Overview map Minnesota Route 23 Business" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
18. Missouri Highway Map Archive (1945-46 front, 1979 back, 1980 back)
19. Google (February 28, 2023). "Overview map of US 71 Bypass (Kansas City, MO)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved February 28, 2023.