Arkansas Highway 242
Encyclopedia
Arkansas Highway 242 is an east–west state highway in Phillips County, Arkansas. The route of 14.74 miles (23.7 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
. A segment of the route is part of the Mississippi River Trail, essentially a bicycle-friendly version of the Great River Road
.
and runs north to enter the city. The route intersects US 49
(Martin Luther King Jr. Drive), 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 mile (0.160934 km) along Plaza Avenue. 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 3000 miles (4,828 km) bike trail from New Orleans to Minnesota
along the Mississippi River
.
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| align=center colspan=3 | concurrency east 0.1 mile (0.160934 km)
|-
in the St. Francis National Forest. It is 0.11 mile (0.1770274 km) in length.
Helena-West Helena, Arkansas
Helena-West Helena is the county seat of and the largest city within Phillips County, Arkansas, United States. The current city represents a consolidation, effective on January 1, 2006, of the two Arkansas cities of Helena and West Helena. West Helena is located on the western side of Crowley's...
north through the city and through the St. Francis National Forest
Ozark-St. Francis National Forest
The Ozark – St. Francis National Forest is a United States National Forest that is located in the state of Arkansas. It is composed of two separate forests, Ozark National Forest and St. Francis National Forest, each with their own biological, topographical, and geological differences...
to Highway 1
Arkansas Highway 1
Arkansas Highway 1 is a north–south state highway in east Arkansas. The route of runs from McGehee to Clay County and the Missouri state line. One of the original 1926 state highways, Highway 1 has remained very close to its original routing. The highway contains an overlap of approximately with...
near Lexa
Lexa, Arkansas
Lexa is a city in Phillips County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 331 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lexa is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
. A segment of the route is part of the Mississippi River Trail, essentially a bicycle-friendly version of the Great River Road
Great River Road
The Great River Road is a collection of state, provincial, federal, and local roads which follow the course of the Mississippi River through ten states of the United States...
.
Route description
Highway 242 begins at Highway 44 south of Helena-West HelenaHelena-West Helena, Arkansas
Helena-West Helena is the county seat of and the largest city within Phillips County, Arkansas, United States. The current city represents a consolidation, effective on January 1, 2006, of the two Arkansas cities of Helena and West Helena. West Helena is located on the western side of Crowley's...
and runs north to enter the city. The route intersects US 49
U.S. Route 49
U.S. Route 49 is a north–south United States highway. The highway's northern terminus is in Piggott, Arkansas, at an intersection with U.S. Route 62. Its southern terminus is in Gulfport, Mississippi, at an intersection with U.S. Route 90. US 49 is approximately 516 miles in length.It...
(Martin Luther King Jr. Drive), a four-lane divided highway, at an at-grade intersection
At-grade intersection
An at-grade intersection is a junction at which two or more transport axes cross at the same level .-Traffic management:With areas of high or fast traffic, an at-grade intersection normally requires a traffic control device such as a stop sign, traffic light or railway signal to manage conflicting...
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
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with US 49B for 0.1 mile (0.160934 km) along Plaza Avenue. The route then turns north becoming 4th Street and passes the Denison House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Exiting Helena-West Helena, Highway 242 continues north to intersect Highway 185 and enter the St. Francis National Forest
Ozark-St. Francis National Forest
The Ozark – St. Francis National Forest is a United States National Forest that is located in the state of Arkansas. It is composed of two separate forests, Ozark National Forest and St. Francis National Forest, each with their own biological, topographical, and geological differences...
. The route intersects its only spur route
Spur route
A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important route . A bypass or beltway is never considered a true spur route as it typically reconnects with the major road...
in the forest prior to curving due west to Lexa
Lexa, Arkansas
Lexa is a city in Phillips County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 331 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lexa is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
. Serving as 1st Street in Lexa the highway passes the post office before terminating at Highway 1
Arkansas Highway 1
Arkansas Highway 1 is a north–south state highway in east Arkansas. The route of runs from McGehee to Clay County and the Missouri state line. One of the original 1926 state highways, Highway 1 has remained very close to its original routing. The highway contains an overlap of approximately with...
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 3000 miles (4,828 km) bike trail from New Orleans to Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
along the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
Major intersections
Mile markers reset at concurrencies.|-
| align=center colspan=3 | concurrency east 0.1 mile (0.160934 km)
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Spur route
Arkansas Highway 242 Spur (AR 242S, Hwy. 242S, or Storm Creek Road) is a spur routeSpur route
A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important route . A bypass or beltway is never considered a true spur route as it typically reconnects with the major road...
in the St. Francis National Forest. It is 0.11 mile (0.1770274 km) in length.