Arkansas Highway 45 (AR 45) is a designation for three state highways in Northwest Arkansas. One segment of 26.97 mi runs from Highway 96 north to Interstate 540 (I-540) in Fort Smith. A second segment of 10.64 mi runs from Highway 59 north of Dutch Mills north to U.S. Route 62 (US 62) east of Lincoln. A third segment of 25.42 mi runs from College Avenue in Fayetteville north to Highway 12 west of Clifty. These routes were formerly connected until a portion of approximately 50 mi was redesignated Highway 59 and many United States highways were rerouted through Fayetteville.

Route description

Hartford to Fort Smith

Highway 45 begins at Highway 96 in Hartford and runs north to meet Highway 252 on either side of Midland. Further north, the route has a 0.45 mi concurrency with Highway 10 through downtown Hackett. Slightly north of Highway 10, Highway 45 runs on the Hackett Creek Bridge and continues north to Bonanza. The route intersects Highway 253 and curves east to form a concurrency with US 71. The highway splits from US 71 to the north, entering Fort Smith, and intersects Highway 255 before terminating at I-540/US 71.

Dutch Mills to Lincoln

The route begins at Highway 59 north of Dutch Mills and runs east past the Bethlehem Cemetery and Twin Bridges Historic District, both on the National Register of Historic Places. The route continues northeast through Clyde before passing the Pyeatte Mill Site and entering the historic community of Canehill. Continuing north, the highway meets US 62 east of Lincoln, where it terminates.

Fayetteville to Clifty

The route begins at College Avenue and runs west as Lafayette Street through Fayetteville. Highway 45 runs through the Washington-Willow Historic District before a sharp left turn onto Mission Boulevard. The highway continues northeast until intersecting Highway 265 and exiting Fayetteville heading east. Passing the Son's Chapel and entering Goshen, the highway continues east through rural Washington County until entering Madison County shortly after a junction with Highway 303. Highway 45 has a junction with Highway 295 before forming a concurrency with US 412B north through Hindsville. The route continues north, with US 412B terminating at a junction with US 412 and Highway 45 terminating at Highway 12 west of Clifty.

History

Highway 45 was one of the original 1926 state highways. The route ran north from Oklahoma west of Hartford, Arkansas to Clifty. The middle segment was replaced by Highway 59 between Van Buren and Dutch Mills, and the route remains fragmented today.

Major intersections