Western Terminus: Exit 14 - US-271/AR-253,
one mile east of Oklahoma/Arkansas State Line (road continues as US-271)
The first assurance sign eastbound, found after the highway's first exit, #14. The old part of I-540, the section south of I-40, has its mile markers backwards from standard convention. The last exit is on Mile 14, while it should be Mile 0 at that point. The 0 mile marker is the interstate's junction with I-40, which, regardless of if this portion is signed east-west, as it is, or north-south, as the newer section is, should be past the Mile 14 marker.
The even weirder part is: the newer part of 540, north of Interstate 40, resequences the numbering correctly, as if Exit 14 is at Mile 0.
(click on any of the above photos for a larger version)
Upper left: US-271. The directional signs below Exit 14. I-540 is shown going in one direction, but not in the other, strongly suggesting this exit marks the terminus point.
Upper & Center right: the Big Green Signs for Exit 14 (ur: westbound; cr: eastbound)
Center & Lower Left: going westbound, while I-540 ends, the highway continues as US-271, and crosses the state line as such. These photos are of the state line, looking in both directions. The recently-resurfaced stretch of road is Oklahoma, the lighter part is Arkansas.
Technically, the upper-right photo is the only one of these five that is actually on I-540. There is, obviously, no 'End' sign at the terminus, which would make the situation SO much easier, don'tcha think?
Northern Terminus: Exit 86 - US-62/AR-102 (road continues as US-71)
Pictures taken 9 December 2002.
The first assurance sign eastbound, found after the highway's first exit, #14. The old part of I-540, the section south of I-40, has its mile markers backwards from standard convention. The last exit is on Mile 14, while it should be Mile 0 at that point. The 0 mile marker is the interstate's junction with I-40, which, regardless of if this portion is signed east-west, as it is, or north-south, as the newer section is, should be past the Mile 14 marker.
The even weirder part is: the newer part of 540, north of Interstate 40, resequences the numbering correctly, as if Exit 14 is at Mile 0.
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Upper left: US-271. The directional signs below Exit 14. I-540 is shown going in one direction, but not in the other, strongly suggesting this exit marks the terminus point.
Upper & Center right: the Big Green Signs for Exit 14 (ur: westbound; cr: eastbound)
Center & Lower Left: going westbound, while I-540 ends, the highway continues as US-271, and crosses the state line as such. These photos are of the state line, looking in both directions. The recently-resurfaced stretch of road is Oklahoma, the lighter part is Arkansas.
Technically, the upper-right photo is the only one of these five that is actually on I-540. There is, obviously, no 'End' sign at the terminus, which would make the situation SO much easier, don'tcha think?
some between-the-termini photos
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(click on any of
the above photos for a larger version)
Upper left: I-40 eastbound,
the northbound 540 exit coming up. For its entire duplexed existence on
I-40, I-540 is not signed.
Upper right: one of the interesting-looking bridges that can be seen from 540. Most of the interesting-looking bridges actually ARE 540, so they have to be seen from other roads, mainly US-71, which runs a parallel course just east of 540.
Lower row: the Bobby Hopper Tunnel, going northbound on 540.
Upper right: one of the interesting-looking bridges that can be seen from 540. Most of the interesting-looking bridges actually ARE 540, so they have to be seen from other roads, mainly US-71, which runs a parallel course just east of 540.
Lower row: the Bobby Hopper Tunnel, going northbound on 540.
Northern Terminus: Exit 86 - US-62/AR-102 (road continues as US-71)
| The southbound Exit 86.
This exit marks the northernmost point in which the expressway is signed as
I-540. North of this exit the remaining seven miles of the expressway is
merely signed as US-71. As with the other end, there
is no 'End' sign at the terminus. |
Pictures taken 9 December 2002.