U.S. 371 is an afterthought in the federal highway system. Within Louisiana it was merely the 1990s renumbering and re-signing of the post-1955 Louisiana Highway 7 north of US 71, which after the 1990s change ceased to exist as a number for a state highway in Louisiana. The section south of US 71 was the post-1955 Louisiana Highway 179, which after the 1990s change ceased to exist as a number for a state highway in Louisiana. It also replaced a section of Louisiana Highway 177. Although signage is on I-49, US 371 begins just north of Coushatta, Louisiana at an intersection with US 71. Intersecting I-20 and US 80 at Minden, it then crosses the Arkansas Line at Springhill, Louisiana. Louisiana Highway 371, on the other hand, was renumbered to Louisiana Highway 3277 because of the creation of US 371.
Arkansas
US 371 contains about 134 miles (216 km) in South Arkansas.
US 371 winds through Hempstead County west and north, concurring briefly with AR 195 and eventually entering Howard County. The route passes through Nashville, again meeting US 278, and runs west through rural land and into Sevier County. In Sevier County, US 371 meets US 59/US 71, which form a northern concurrency, eventually adding US 70 as well. These four routes run together west to De Queen, at which US 371 terminates.
History
Initially referenced as the Bi-State Corridor, the Arkansas State Highway Commission designated several state highways as a proposed corridor to seek AASHTO approval as a US highway in January 1994.[1] Upon receiving approval, the route was officially commissioned in Arkansas as Highway 371 on 24 August 1994.[2]