The highway's general alignment between the western terminus and Marked Tree closely follows the original routing as established in the initial 1926 Arkansas state highway numbering plan. The route from Lepanto east across I-55 to Golden Lake is a later extension.
Route description
Table Rock Lake to Payneway
Highway 14 begins in the Ozark Mountains east of Table Rock Lake as a continuation of Boat Dock Road and runs east to an intersection with U.S. Route 65 (US 65) 0.7 miles (1.1 km) south of Ridgedale, Missouri. US 65 and Highway 14 form a concurrency southbound along the four-lane divided highway. After 0.7 miles (1.1 km), Highway 14 turns from US 65 toward the small community of Omaha, ending the concurrency. As the road approaches Main Street in Omaha, Highway 14 turns east and exits the city. Highway 14 winds east through a rural part of Boone County, passing through the unincorporated community of New Hope and crossing Charley Creek and Bear Creek. Highway 14 begins to roughly parallel Bull Shoals Lake toward Lead Hill; upon entering the city, Highway 14 forms a concurrency with Highway 7 through Lead Hill which ends just south of the city limits. Highway 14 continues east into Marion County; crossing East Sugarloaf Creek and serving as the western terminus of Highway 268 just east of the county line.[4]
The highway curves southward away from Bull Shoals Lake and into the rural Ozarks; it winds through Monarch to a junction with Highway 125. Highway 14 continues south past the Slippery Hollow Natural Area, a preserved area of caves serving as habitat the Ozark big-eared bat and other endangered species[5] and the unincorporated community of Lakeway before a junction with another segment of Highway 125.[6] Highway 14 curves eastward, entering the small town of Summit from the north and becomes Main Street. In Summit, Highway 14 crosses over the Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad tracks, becomes a section line road, and meets Highway 202 (Park Avenue) at a four-way stop intersection. Continuing south, Highway 14 passes within two blocks of the Marion County Fairgrounds before entering Yellville, the county seat of Marion County. Now designated Panther Avenue, the road passes Yellville–Summit High School and Central Ozarks Medical Center before curving through a residential section of town and intersecting US 62 and US 412 in downtown Yellville.
The three routes form a concurrency eastbound along Main Street, passing through the historic commercial center of Yellville, including the Marion County Courthouse. US 62/US 412/Highway 14 bridge the East Prong Town Branch before Highway 14 turns south, ending the concurrency. Highway 14 bridges Crooked Creek and passes Yellville City Park before serving as the northern terminus of Highway 235 and departing Yellville to the south.[7] The highway runs south through a rural area, serving as the western terminus of Highway 206 near Ralph and Highway 268 near Mull before entering the Buffalo National River protected area, bridging the namesake river, and crossing into Searcy County.[6]
Highway 14 passes through the northeast corner of Searcy County; a sparsely populated part of the Ozark Mountains. The highway exits the Buffalo National River area and passes near Loafer's Glory Wildlife Management Area near Evening Star. Continuing south, Highway 14 serves as the northern terminus of Highway 27 at a t-intersection at Harriet, with Highway 14 turning left to continue eastbound into Baxter County.[8] The highway enters the small town of Big Flat, serving as the northern terminus of Highway 263 and passing two school buildings (Tri-County High School and the Big Flat School Gymnasium[9]) before exiting the city to the east. Highway 14 enters the Ozark National Forest and serves as the southern terminus of Highway 341 before exiting the county eastbound into Stone County.[10]
Continuing through the Ozark National Forest, Highway 14 enters Stone County and passes through the small town of Fifty-Six before an intersection with Forest Service Road 1110. At this intersection, the route becomes part of the Sylamore Scenic Byway, a National Forest Scenic Byway and Arkansas Scenic Byway. The designation follows Highway 14 through a popular tourist area, serving the Mirror Lake Historic District, Blanchard Springs Caverns, and the Gunner Pool Recreation Area. The highway serves as the northern terminus of Highway 87 and winds eastward to a junction with Highway 5 and Highway 9; two north–south highways running concurrently, at Allison near the White River. Highway 14 joins the concurrency southbound into Mountain View, with the Sylamore Scenic Byway turning north toward Calico Rock.
The highway enters Independence County, running between the White River and the Foushee Cave Natural Area and crossing Rocky Creek before an intersection with Highway 25 at the unincorporated community of Locust Grove. The two routes form a concurrency heading east to the small town of Southside just south of Batesville, where Highway 14 breaks from the concurrency at a junction with US 167. Highway 14 continues south as Allen Chapel Road through Southside before exiting the city. Near Salado, Highway 14 serves as the eastern terminus of Highway 14S, which runs west into Southside.[20] The route continues eastward, roughly paralleling the White River toward Oil Trough. The highway crosses Salado Creek and Goodie Creek, both tributaries of the White River, before serving as the northern terminus of Highway 157 west of Oil Trough. Within the city, Highway 14 serves as Main Street[21] and passes the historic Hankins' Store before exiting eastbound.[22] Highway 14 continues east to serve as the western terminus of Highway 122 before entering Jackson County.[23]
Highway 14 passes through the unincorporated community of Macks before an intersection with Highway 367; these two routes form a concurrency eastbound toward Newport. Together they span the White River and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks before turning sharply onto Third Street and running downtown. The highways pass the Jackson County Courthouse and the Arkansas Rock N Roll Highway 67 Museum in downtown. Continuing east, the highways serve as the southern terminus of Highway 69 before becoming Malcom Street. Highway 14 turns south at State Street, marking the end of the concurrency. Highway 14 continues south past the Newport Country Club before serving as the northern terminus of a segment of Highway 17 and exiting the city southbound.[24] The highway curves east and interchanges with I-57/US 67 and Highway 224. Continuing eastbound, Highway 14 passes the Erwin Auxiliary Army Airfield and has another junction with Highway 17 at Erwin. Due to the roadway alignment, a short suffixed route, Highway 14Y serves as a short connector for westbound travelers turning from Highway 14 to Highway 17. The highway continues east as a section line road, serving as a northern terminus for Highway 145, bridging the Cache River, and briefly overlapping with Highway 37 at Amagon before entering Poinsett County and the Arkansas Delta.[25]
Highway 14 runs east as a section line road, passing through the Earl Buss/Bayou Deview Wildlife Management Area and crossing Bayou DeView before an intersection with the Union Pacific Railway tracks and US 49/US 63 in Waldenburg. The highway continues east through sparsely populated agricultural lands, crossing the L'Anguille River before entering the county seat of Harrisburg. Highway 14 intersects Highway 1 and crosses the Union Pacific railroad tracks in the city before passing through the Harrisburg Commercial Historic District, which includes the Poinsett County Courthouse. The highway continues east, serving as the southern terminus of Highway 463 at Payneway before an interchange with I-555, where it terminates.
State Road 14 was created during the 1926 Arkansas state highway numbering roughly along the current routing between Omaha and Payneway in Poinsett County.[2] The early route included ferry service at both the Buffalo River and the White River (near Oil Trough), and a toll bridge at Newport.[27] In 1940, Highway 14 was rerouted onto Highway 110 between Southside and Oil Trough, with the former alignment becoming part of an extended Highway 69 and Highway 122.[28][29] Between 1942 and 1945, the designation was extended east to Wilson.[30][31]
Following construction of the Bull Shoals Dam, three segments of Highway 14 were inundated by Bull Shoals Reservoir. Known as Bear Creek Bay and East and West Sugar Loaf Creek bays, the highway was rerouted around the lake on March 11, 1954.[32] The former alignments remain as county roads near the lake known as "Old Hwy 14".[33]
In 1978, Highway 14 was rerouted south of Batesville. The mainline Highway 14 was rerouted over existing Highway 25 and supplanted Highway 14A. The former Highway 14 mainline route was redesignated as Highway 230 between Locust Grove and Southside. A short original section of Highway 14 between Southside and Salado, discontinuous after the rerouting, was redesignated Highway 14 Spur.[34]
Arkansas Highway 14 Alternate is a former alternate route of 1.34 miles (2.16 km) in Independence County.[34] Highway 14A began at Highway 14 at Salado and ran northeast to Ramsey Hill, terminating at US 167 and Highway 25. The route was added to the state highway system on June 23, 1965.[38] Highway 14A was supplanted by mainline Highway 14 during a rerouting in 1978.[34]
^ Although mileage of overlapping highways in Arkansas highways is normally counted under the route of greater importance, Highway 14, Section 7 mileage begins eastbound of the Highway 9 junction in Mountain View, with Highway 5 following as an officially designated exception.[36]
^ Although mileage of overlapping highways in Arkansas highways is normally counted under the route of greater importance, Highway 14, Section 8 mileage ends at the Highway 25 junction, and Section 9 begins in Southside.[37]
References
^ abcdPlanning 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.
^ abArkansas State Highway Department (April 1, 1926). State of Arkansas Showing System of State Highways(TIF) (Map). 1:500,000. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway Commission. Retrieved November 21, 2021 – via Arkansas GIS Office.
^General Highway Map, Mississippi County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. January 11, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
^General Highway Map, Boone County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation, Transportation Planning and Policy Division. November 19, 2013 [August 12, 2002]. OCLC909275885. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
^ abPlanning and Research Division (April 15, 2008) [December 19, 2005]. General Highway Map, Marion County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. OCLC914353554. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
^Planning and Research Division (January 2007). Map of Summit & Yellville, Marion County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. §§ A2-C2, C3-E3. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
^Planning and Research Division (October 7, 2002) [August 3, 2007]. General Highway Map, Searcy County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. OCLC919090848. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
^General Highway Map, Baxter County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, Transportation Planning and Policy Division. December 28, 2016 [May 30, 2002]. OCLC909039471. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
^Map of Mountain View, Stone County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas Department of Transportation, Transportation Planning and Policy Division. December 2017. §§ B3, C3-C5. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
^General Highway Map, Stone County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, Transportation Planning and Policy Division. October 6, 2016 [October 31, 2001]. OCLC919441822. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
^Map of Southside, Independence County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, Transportation Planning and Policy Division. September 2018. §§ A4, C5, E5-E7. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
^Planning and Research Division (April 2008). Map of Oil Trough, Independence County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. §§ B1-B4. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
^General Highway Map, Independence County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, Transportation Planning and Policy Division. January 21, 2014 [October 4, 2004]. OCLC913233711. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
^General Highway Map, Jackson County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, Transportation Planning and Policy Division. August 30, 2016 [December 28, 2011]. OCLC913479483. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
^General Highway Map, Poinsett County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map) (Revised ed.). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, Transportation Planning and Policy Division. March 21, 2016 [November 28, 2005]. OCLC917911195. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
^Arkansas State Highway Commission (1935). Official Highway Service Map(TIF) (Map). Scale not given. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway Commission. Retrieved November 21, 2021 – via Arkansas GIS Office.
^Arkansas State Highway Commission (1940). Map of the State Highway System of Arkansas(TIF) (Map). Scale not given. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway Commission. Retrieved December 26, 2021 – via Arkansas GIS Office.
^Arkansas State Highway Commission (1941). Map of the State Highway System of Arkansas(TIF) (Map). Scale not given. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway Commission. Retrieved December 26, 2021 – via Arkansas GIS Office.
^Arkansas State Highway Commission (1942). Official State Highway Service Map(TIF) (Map). Scale not given. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway Commission. Retrieved December 26, 2021 – via Arkansas GIS Office.
^Arkansas State Highway Commission (1945). Map of the State Highway System of Arkansas(TIF) (Map). Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway Commission. Retrieved December 26, 2021 – via Arkansas GIS Office.
"Minutes of the Meeting"(PDF). Arkansas State Highway Commission. 1953–1969. Archived from the original(PDF) on October 1, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
"Minutes of the Meeting"(PDF). Arkansas State Highway Commission. 1970–1979. Archived from the original(PDF) on November 5, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2016.