Bobby Hopper Tunnel

The Bobby Hopper Tunnel is a highway tunnel on Interstate 49 (I-49) in Arkansas, just north of the Crawford–Washington county line. It opened in 1999 to four lanes of traffic. No toll is charged.DescriptionThe tunnel's twin bores are each approximately 1600ft in length, 38ft wide and 25ft tall . A prominent feature of the tunnel is the noticeably inclined gradient of each bore and its associated roadway. Southbound traffic experiences a significant descending gradient inside the tunnel, while northbound traffic experiences a corresponding ascending gradient. Cross-passages occur every 265ft allowing for five emergency ways in. Besides paved openings, the tunnel has traffic signals, lighting, message signs, carbon monoxide monitors, fire protection, and closed-circuit television systems to monitor traffic remotely at the Fort Smith highway department district headquarters.The tunnel was named for the director of the Arkansas Highway Commission during the time of its construction. This is the only highway tunnel in the state of Arkansas; there are seven railroad tunnels but only one highway tunnel in the state. The Bobby Hopper Tunnel is located on I-49 in Washington County just north of the Crawford County line with its closest exit at Winslow.