page_title: Memphis to Little Rock Road
section_title: Construction
hierarchical_section_title: Memphis to Little Rock Road / History / Construction
caption_attribution_description: English: Historic marker of US 64/Military Road in Marion, AR near the junction of US 64 and AR 77.
context_page_description: The Memphis to Little Rock Road was a settlement road constructed between 1819 and Reconstruction in Arkansas. The project was one of many internal improvements to assist settlement of the Old Southwest as well as military defense of the Arkansas Territory.
context_section_description: Shortly after setting out from Memphis the team of three surveyors found terrain along the route very wet and swampy. Despite arguments over the best alignment, an alignment of 135.5 miles (218.1 km) was selected, cutting the total distance by over 60 miles (97 km) (prior journeys being via Arkansas Post or Helena, Arkansas). By 1828, the 24 feet (7.3 m) wide dirt road was open, though still subject to closures following seasonal rains. By 1831, the Arkansas General Assembly requested an $20,000 ($480,000 in today's dollars) for repairs. Flooding made the road impassible, sometimes for months at a time, impeding the emigrants to settle Arkansas and points west. Now represented by Ambrose Sevier in the US House of Representatives, Arkansas had the ear of President Andrew Jackson. Studies to determine the necessary improvements produced an additional $106,000 ($2,715,000 in today's dollars) from Congress in 1834 to construct an entirely new road, bridges, levees, and drainage improvements. The right-of-way now exceeded 200 feet (61 m), as trees were cleared on both sides of the road to allow sunlight to dry the roadway.
caption: Military Road marker at Marion, Arkansas
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