Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

FYI: taken from 4029TV.com
Highway 23 Closed Near Ozark, Ark.

POSTED: 4:15 pm CST December 29, 2009
UPDATED: 4:29 pm CST December 29, 2009

OZARK, Ark. -- A road that was damaged in 2008 floods was shut down by the Arkansas highway department Tuesday.

The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department shut down Highway 23 about 20 miles north of Interstate 40 in Franklin County Tuesday.

The road had been down to one lane for the past two months as crews worked to repair damage.

Instability led them to close the road completely, officials said.

Officials said crews will be working seven days a week to reopen one lane as soon as possible.

I haven't been down the Pig Trail in a couple years, not since smoking my brakes last time. I know a lot of bikers will be unhappy about the closing if its not open by spring. Does anyone know if there is a way around the closed section?
I remember in June 08 when HWY 16 near Crosses slid and it was shut down to one lane for 8 to 10 months while they were trying to fix it. Seems like every time I went down it, the slide got worse and they had a hard time stabilizing it.
I'll remember not to take my bike up there till I know for sure it's fixed.

IIRC, the news guys said last night they should have one lane open in about two weeks. ty

Does anyone know if the closed section is north or south or Turner Bend? A couple of months ago there was major road construction going on south of Turner Bend. But the description says "about 20 miles north of Hwy 40" and I don't think Turner Bend is that far from I-40, so I'm not sure exactly where the road closure is.

I haven't driven down since the closure, but I was down there on christmas eve and the one lane portion of the road where the majority of the road work looked to be happening was north of turner bend on 23.

eric

heading south it's about 4 to 5 miles onto the pig trail, not too far from the hiking trail parkinglot ....my mileage could be off!

The newspaper says it is about 5 miles north of Cass. Hope they get it repaired soon.

The closed part of the highway is not too far north of the Mulberry Mt. Music Venue. From the north you can still get as far south as the Highland Trail Parking lot on 23. If you need to get down to the Mulberry, you can go south down Highway 23 to E. Fly Gap Road. Easy to miss as it takes off from 23 at an angle where you are almost by it before you see it on your left. If you get to W. Fly Gap you have gone too far. Once you get yourself on E. Fly Gap, you will continue to Morgan Mountain Rd. Go Right on Morgan Mountain Road until you come to 215. You will be just a few hundred feet east of the road to Redding CG. All of this is gravel..some rough spots. Doable in 2 wheel drive. It will not be a quick way to go, but you can get there. Cal