Before the bypass was built, Highway 7, U.S. Highway 70B, and U.S. Highway 270B were the only access routes into Hot Springs; roads that eventually became congested as the area grew. Construction of the bypass began in 1987 and aimed to provide an alternative route in order to reduce traffic congestion in downtown Hot Springs. The recently opened bypass is expected to decrease thru-traffic, enhancing the downtown area for tourists and pedestrians. The Bypass Extension provides Hot Springs Village, a well-known retirement community, with faster and safer access to healthcare, shopping, and leisure activities. Concurrently, healthcare workers and in-home care providers will have a faster and safer route for getting to Hot Springs Village without traveling through the downtown area. Faster travel times also means faster response times by emergency services as well, such as ambulance service, law enforcement, or the fire department.
America's Transportation Awards 