Arkansas Highway 242
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by AHTD | ||||
| Length: | 14.74 mi[1] (23.72 km) | |||
| Tourist routes: | Crowley's Ridge Parkway | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end: |
 AR 1 west of Lexa | |||
.svg.png){kind=small} US 49, Helena-West Helena | ||||
| East end: |
 AR 44 south of Helena-West Helena | |||
| Location | ||||
| Counties: | Phillips | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Arkansas Highway 242 (AR 242, Hwy. 242) is an east–west state highway in Phillips County, Arkansas. The route of 14.74 miles (23.72 km) runs from Highway 44 near Helena-West Helena north through the city and through the St. Francis National Forest to Highway 1 near Lexa.[2] A segment of the route is part of the Mississippi River Trail, essentially a bicycle-friendly version of the Great River Road.[3]
Route description
Highway 242 begins at Highway 44 south of Helena-West Helena and runs north to enter the city. The route intersects US 49 (Martin Luther King Jr. Drive[4]), a four-lane divided highway, at an at-grade intersection in the south part of the city. Highway 242 continues east to intersect Highway 185 before turning due north toward the center of town. The route forms a concurrency with US 49B for 0.1 miles (0.16 km) along Plaza Avenue.[2] The route then turns north becoming 4th Street and passes the Denison House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Exiting Helena-West Helena, Highway 242 continues north to intersect Highway 185 and enter the St. Francis National Forest. The route intersects its only spur route in the forest prior to curving due west to Lexa. Serving as 1st Street in Lexa the highway passes the post office before terminating at Highway 1 just west of Lexa.
Beginning from the end of the US 49B concurrency to Highway 1, the route is designated as part of the Mississippi River Trail, a 3,000 miles (4,800 km) bike route from New Orleans to Minnesota along the Mississippi River.[3]
Major intersections
Mile markers reset at concurrencies. The entire route is in Phillips County.
| Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexa Junction | 10.15 | 16.33 | AR 1 – Walnut Corner, Marianna | Western terminus | |
| Helena-West Helena | 2.19 | 3.52 |   CR 217 / Crowley's Ridge Pkwy. north (St. Francis Scenic Byway / AR 242S) – Storm Creek Lake Recreation Area | ||
| 1.75 | 2.82 |  AR 185 south | |||
| 0.00 | 0.00 |  US 49B south / Crowley's Ridge Pkwy. south (Plaza Street) to AR 185 south | West end of US 49B overlap | ||
| 4.59 | 7.39 | US 49B north – Brinkley, Memphis | East end of US 49B overlap | ||
| 3.32 | 5.34 | AR 185 north | |||
| 3.08 | 4.96 | US 49 – Clarksdale, MS, Brinkley | |||
| | 0.00 | 0.00 |  AR 44 / Great River Road | Eastern terminus | |
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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Spur route
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|---|---|
| Location: | north of West Helena |
| Length: | 0.11 mi[1] (0.18 km) |
Arkansas Highway 242 Spur (AR 242S, Hwy. 242S, or Storm Creek Road) is a spur route in the St. Francis National Forest. It is 0.11 miles (0.18 km) in length.
See also
Arkansas portal
U.S. Roads portal
References
- 1 2 3 Planning and Research Division (2010). "Arkansas Road Log Database". Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Archived from the original (Database) on 23 June 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
- 1 2 General Highway Map (PDF) (Map) (Phillips County ed.). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- 1 2 Southern Mississippi River Trail (Map) (Southern section ed.). Mississippi River Trail, Inc. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ↑ Map of Helena-West Helena, Phillips County (Map) (January 2006 ed.). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Retrieved July 15, 2011.