I-42 Is Open in Arkansas: Eleven Miles, $400 Million, Two More Phases to Watch
The first stretch of I-42 in Arkansas opened Sept. 4 with the XNA connector. The next two phases are estimated at $450 million to $550 million combined.
The first piece of I-42 in Arkansas is open. Seven miles of bypass and four miles of airport connector opened Sept. 4, and ARDOT puts the investment at $400 million.
The next money to watch is Phase 3. It is expected to go to bid in about a year, and Congress has approved $59 million toward it.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation opened Arkansas Highway 642 (the XNA connector) and the second phase of the Springdale Northern Bypass on September 4, 2026, per Talk Business & Politics. The bypass phase is the first segment of Interstate 42 to open in Arkansas. ARDOT puts the total investment at $400 million, with a combined construction value of $308.46 million.
ARDOT says westbound drivers who take I-42 and skip US 412 through Tontitown could save about 10 minutes a day. Arkansas now has 902 miles of interstate, up from 703 ten years ago, a gain of 199 miles or about 28 percent (computed).
What are the facts?
| Project | Length and route | Cost | Features | Contractor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XNA connector (Highway 642) | 4 miles, from the new I-42 segment to Highway 264 at the airport's south entrance | $127.67 million | 11 bridges, an I-42 interchange, a signal at Highway 264 | Crossland Construction (Columbus, Kan.) |
| Bypass phase 2 (I-42) | 7 miles, four lanes, Highway 112 to US 412 in western Tontitown | $180.78 million | 15 bridges, three interchanges | Emery Sapp & Sons (Columbia, Mo.) |
What happens next?
| Phase | Route | Estimate | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 3 | Highway 612, I-49 to Highway 265, about 3 miles | $200 to $250 million | Expected to go to bid in about a year. Congress approved $59 million in federal funding. |
| Phase 4 | Highway 265 to US 412, 6.63 miles | $250 to $300 million | No bid date. A $24.5 million grant in July 2025 covers property acquisition. |
Phase 1 opened in 2018 and cost $100.6 million. The full bypass is projected at nearly $1 billion. Phases 3 and 4 are not yet designated as interstate, which needs congressional approval. Congress designated the 190-mile I-42 corridor, which would link I-49 and Springdale with I-35 north of Oklahoma City, in late 2021.
What is still unknown?
The report does not mention Centerton or Bentonville. It gives no traffic counts and does not explain the gap between the $400 million total investment and the $308.46 million construction value.
What does it mean for land?
The two construction figures add to $308.45 million, a rounding match for the printed $308.46 million (computed). The $400 million total is about $91.5 million above construction value (computed). The report does not say what fills that gap.
Per mile, the connector cost about $31.9 million ($127.67 million over 4 miles) and bypass phase 2 about $25.8 million ($180.78 million over 7 miles), both computed. The Phase 3 estimate works out to about $66.7 to $83.3 million per mile, and Phase 4 to about $37.7 to $45.2 million per mile (computed from the estimates).
On the land side, a 71.39-acre tract southeast of I-42 near Millsap and Ardemagni roads in Tontitown sold for $3.9 million ($54,629 per acre) in a sale reported September 28, 2026. See the seven-sale comparison. The sale report does not tie that price to the new road.
Watch three things: the Phase 3 bid date, any congressional designation of Phases 3 and 4, and ARDOT right-of-way notices along the Highway 265 corridor.
What should landowners do now?
Owners near the planned Phase 3 and Phase 4 routes can ask ARDOT for the project plans and right-of-way maps. Ask where interchanges and access points fall, since access controls how a parcel connects to the new road.
Frequently asked questions
What opened on September 4, 2026? Highway 642, the 4-mile XNA connector, and the 7-mile second phase of the Springdale Northern Bypass, which is the first stretch of I-42 in Arkansas.
How much did the projects cost? ARDOT puts the investment at $400 million. Construction value was $308.46 million.
What is next for I-42? Phase 3 on Highway 612 is expected to go to bid in about a year. Phase 4 has no bid date.
The bottom line
Eleven miles of new road opened in one day, and the next two phases are estimated at $450 million to $550 million combined (computed).
The Phase 3 bid date is the trigger to watch.
Looking for land in Northwest Arkansas? Browse land and acreage listings.
References
- Talk Business & Politics, "ARDOT opens $400 million in highways in Northwest Arkansas, adds Interstate 42 to map," Sept. 4, 2026
Cited for: the openings, costs, lengths, contractors, time savings, interstate mileage and the Phase 3 and Phase 4 details
