▁runs ▁concurrent ly ▁for ▁ 6 ▁miles ▁into ▁W ister . ▁ ▁From ▁W ister , ▁US ▁ 2 7 1 ▁runs ▁n ort he aster ly ▁to ▁P ote au . ▁ ▁From ▁P ote au ▁via ▁Pan ama ▁to ▁SH ▁ 9 , ▁the ▁highway ▁is ▁co - signed ▁with ▁US ▁ 5 9 . ▁ ▁Thus ▁US ▁ 2 7 1 ▁runs ▁concurrent ly ▁with ▁SH ▁ 9 ▁through ▁S pi ro ▁to ▁the ▁Ark ansas ▁line . ▁ ▁Al most ▁all ▁of ▁the ▁route ▁between ▁P ote au ▁and ▁the ▁border ▁is ▁four - lane ▁divided ▁highway . ▁ ▁Ark ansas ▁The ▁route ▁runs ▁for ▁ ▁in ▁Ark ansas , ▁all ▁within ▁Fort ▁Smith . ▁Its ▁northern ▁termin us ▁is ▁at ▁Business ▁U . S . ▁ 7 1 ▁and ▁Highway ▁ 2 5 5 ▁in ▁Fort ▁Smith . ▁Its ▁southern ▁termin us ▁is ▁at ▁the ▁Oklahoma ▁State ▁Line ▁near ▁P oc ola . ▁ ▁History ▁In ▁ 1 9 2 6 , ▁US ▁ 2 7 1 ▁was ▁commission ed ▁between ▁Fort ▁Smith , ▁Ark ansas , ▁and ▁M ena , ▁Ark ansas , ▁by ▁way ▁of ▁S pi ro ▁and ▁P ote au , ▁Oklahoma , ▁but ▁the ▁route ▁south ▁of ▁P ote au ▁was ▁turned ▁over ▁to ▁U . S . ▁Route ▁ 2 7 0 ▁( and ▁later , ▁U . S . ▁Route ▁ 5 9 ) ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 0 . ▁ ▁US ▁ 2 7 1 ▁was ▁then ▁re -