What is Arkansas's "Deadliest" 130 Miles of Roadway?

But the interstate isn't the only red zone. From the "Dead Man's Curve" of Highway 7 to the chaotic intersections of Little Rock, here are the roads you need to watch out for in 2026.

1. The "Freight Alley": I-40 (Little Rock to West Memphis)

This corridor is the trucking spine of America, and it shows.

• The Danger Zone: The 130-mile stretch across the Delta.
• The "Wall of Trucks": This route carries one of the highest volumes of semi-truck traffic in the US. If you are in a sedan, you are often driving in the "blind spots" of three different 18-wheelers at once.
• The Construction: The perpetual widening projects near Proctor and Forrest City have created narrow lanes with concrete barriers. If a truck drifts six inches, there is nowhere for you to go.
• The Fog: In the cooler months, heavy fog rolls off the rice fields and swamps, dropping visibility to zero instantly.

2. The Intersection List: 2 Spots to Watch

Arkansas cities have "stroads" (high-speed commercial streets) that are notorious for severe collisions.

A. Asher Avenue & University Avenue (Little Rock)

If you ask any Little Rock local where the worst traffic is, this is the answer.

• The Record: It consistently ranks as the #1 most dangerous intersection in the state for crash frequency.
• The Risk: It sits near the university and major retail zones. The mix of distracted students, rushing commuters, and confusing turn signals leads to a staggering number of T-bone and rear-end collisions.

B. North College Avenue & Joyce Boulevard (Fayetteville)

In Northwest Arkansas, College Avenue (US-71B) is the headache.

• The Problem: It is the primary retail artery for Fayetteville.
• The Hazard: The intersection at Joyce Blvd is massive and aggressive. Drivers trying to turn left across multiple lanes of high-speed oncoming traffic (often to get to the mall or restaurants) cause frequent, severe wrecks.

3. The "Scenic Trap": Highway 7 (The Bismarck Curve)

Scenic Byway 7 is beautiful, but near the town of Bismarck, it turns deadly.

• The "Narrows": Locals know the stretch north of Bismarck as the "Narrows" or "Dead Man's Curve."
• The Risk: It is a two-lane road with sharp, blind hills and curves.
• The Crash Pattern: Drivers unfamiliar with the road take the curves too fast or try to pass on short straightaways. Head-on collisions here are tragically common and almost always fatal due to the lack of shoulders.
• The Warning: If you are driving to Hot Springs or DeGray Lake, do not speed here. The curves are tighter than the signs suggest.

4. The Rural Killer: US-65 (The Delta Run)

Heading southeast into the Delta, US-65 presents a different kind of danger.

• The Mix: It connects Little Rock to the Mississippi River.
• The Danger: You are sharing a high-speed rural highway with massive farm equipment and logging trucks.

• The Risk: Turning Traffic. Vehicles pulling onto the highway from dirt farm roads often underestimate the speed of oncoming traffic (which is usually doing 70+ mph).

How to Survive the Drive

• Give Trucks Space on I-40: Do not linger next to a semi. Pass quickly or stay back. If a tire blows on a truck next to you in the construction chute, it can be catastrophic.
• Wait Your Turn at Asher & University: The yellow light is not an invitation. In Little Rock, running red lights is a sport. Look left before you go on green.
• Slow Down in Bismarck: On Highway 7, enjoy the view, but respect the curves. The "Narrows" has claimed too many lives to ignore.