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Wikipedia

Interstate 49

Interstate 49 (I-49) is a north–south Interstate Highway that exists in multiple segments: the original portion entirely within the state of Louisiana with an additional signed portion extending from I-220 in Shreveport to the Arkansas state line, three newer sections in Arkansas, and a new section that opened in Missouri. Its southern terminus is in Lafayette, Louisiana, at I-10 while its northern terminus is in Kansas City, Missouri, at I-435 and I-470. Portions of the remaining roadway in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas, which will link Kansas City with New Orleans, are in various stages of planning or construction.

Interstate 49

I-49 highlighted in red, AR 549 highlighted in blue
Route information
Length547.52 mi[1] (881.15 km)
Existed1977[2]–present
NHSEntire route
Original segment
South end I-10 / US 167 / LA 182 in Lafayette, LA
Major intersections
North end I-20 in Shreveport, LA
Northern Louisiana–Southern Arkansas segment
South end I-220 in Shreveport, LA
Major intersections
North end US 71 / US 59 in Texarkana, AR
Northern segment
South end I-40 / US 71 in Alma, AR
Major intersections I-44 near Joplin, MO
North end I-435 / I-470 / US 50 / US 71 in Kansas City, MO
Location
CountryUnited States
StatesLouisiana, Arkansas, Missouri
Highway system

Although not part of the original 1957 Interstate Highway plan, residents of Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana began campaigning for the highway in 1965 via the "US 71 - I-29 Association". The campaign called for I-29 to be extended south from Kansas City to New Orleans following much of the route along U.S. Route 71 (US 71). The plan called for creating a limited access expressway from New Orleans to the Canadian border and on to Winnipeg (via Manitoba Highway 75). When I-49 is complete, the goal of the association will have been accomplished,[3] with only a brief gap between the Grandview Triangle and I-29 at the Kansas City Downtown Loop served by US 71 (Bruce R. Watkins Memorial Drive) or other Interstates such as I-435 and I-70 in Kansas City.

Route description edit

Lengths
  mi[1] km
LA 239.25 385.04
AR 124.31 200.06
TX
MO 183.96 296.05
Total 547.52 881.15

Louisiana edit

 
I-49 near Chopin, Louisiana (2009)

The current southern terminus of I-49 is located at a cloverleaf interchange with I-10 and US 167 in the southern Louisiana city of Lafayette. Southbound motorists continue through the interchange onto the Evangeline Thruway, which transitions from a limited-access portion of US 167 to a major divided thoroughfare that picks up the US 90 corridor heading through the heart of Lafayette. I-49 begins its journey concurrent with US 167 as it travels northward through Carencro, Sunset, Grand Coteau, and Opelousas. US 167 departs from the Interstate's alignment at exit 23 between Opelousas and Washington, and I-49 begins to take a northwesterly path through the heavily wooded rural terrain. Various state highways provide access to the small towns and cities located along the parallel US 71 and US 167 corridors, such as Lebeau, Ville Platte, Bunkie, and Cheneyville. After crossing US 167, I-49 travels between US 71 and US 165 into the Alexandria metropolitan area in central Louisiana.

I-49 travels through downtown Alexandria doubling as U.S. Highway 71 Bypass (US 71 Byp.) and is also concurrent with portions of US 167 and Louisiana Highway 28 (LA 28). Major interchanges with US 167 and US 71 lead to bridges that cross the Red River into the neighboring city of Pineville. Continuing northwest from Alexandria, I-49 parallels the Red River and LA 1 through Boyce and passes just west of the historic city of Natchitoches, which is reached via LA 6 at exit 138. Between Natchitoches and Shreveport, I-49 travels between LA 1 and US 171 and has junctions with US 371 and US 84, connecting with Coushatta and Mansfield, respectively.

In Shreveport, the Interstate heads directly into the downtown area and terminates at I-20, a route that facilitates eastbound traffic. However, through traffic bound for I-20 west and the northern segment of I-49 is directed to transfer onto LA 3132 at an interchange located about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) south of this terminus. LA 3132 is a western freeway bypass of Shreveport known as the Inner Loop Expressway that becomes I-220 upon intersecting I-20. On the northside of town, motorists may exit I-220 and follow the next segment of I-49, which parallels US 71 into Arkansas.

The heaviest traffic on I-49 occurs within the cities of Shreveport and Opelousas. The stretch of freeway in Shreveport sees an average of 70,000 vehicles per day, while the stretch of freeway between Lafayette and Carencro sees an average of 55,000 vehicles per day, and the stretch of freeway through Opelousas sees an average of 45,000 vehicles per day between the Judson Walsh Drive and Creswell Lane exits.

During the sugarcane season, there are a large number of trucks and tractors pulling heavy cane wagons, causing traffic congestion and accidents.[4]

Arkansas edit

 
I-49 rises into the Ozark Mountains south of Fayetteville.

I-49 in Arkansas is composed of three disconnected segments: northern, southern, and a short connector skirting Fort Smith near Fort Chaffee that is currently designated as AR 549.

The southern segment of I-49 enters Arkansas from Louisiana. The short segment progresses northward to a temporary terminus at US 71 and US 59 at the Texas state line north of Texarkana.

The northern segment of I-49 in Arkansas, most of which was formerly signed as part of I-540, begins at I-40 in Alma and runs north to Northwest Arkansas through the Boston Mountains. The freeway passes through steep, sparsely populated terrain before entering the Bobby Hopper Tunnel in Washington County. Entering Northwest Arkansas, I-49 has seven exits for Fayetteville and three exits for Springdale before entering Benton County. The route serves as the boundary between Bentonville and Rogers, with seven exits for the two cities. After an interchange with US 71 just south of the Bentonville–Bella Vista city line, I-49 follows the Bella Vista Bypass, which runs to the south and west of Bella Vista before crossing into Missouri.

I-49 is designated as the Boston Mountains Scenic Loop between Alma and Fayetteville. The I-49 designation replaced the I-540 designation through Northwest Arkansas in March 2014,[5] with the exception of the Bella Vista Bypass, which was constructed between July 2011 and October 2021.

Missouri edit

I-49 enters Missouri from Arkansas on the Bella Vista Bypass, eventually reuniting with US 71 south of Pineville. Continuing northward, I-49 passes through several smaller communities, including Neosho, before reaching Joplin. In Joplin, I-49 junctions with I-44 and begins a short concurrency with I-44 for exits 11 through 18.

Just a few miles east of Joplin, I-49 leaves I-44 and heads north and enters Carthage, intersecting with Interstate 49 Business (I-49 Bus.)/Route 171, which provides an alternate route for northbound I-49 travelers through Joplin. I-49 then passes through Nevada and other communities before reaching the Kansas City area. I-49 intersects with I-470 and I-435, which provides connection to I-70, I-35, and I-29.

In south Kansas City, at Bannister Road just north of the Grandview Triangle, the I-49 designation ends, and the freeway continues as Interstate 435 north to I-70 west and the expressway continues as US 71, which proceeds into downtown Kansas City as Bruce R. Watkins Memorial Drive.

History edit

Louisiana edit

The original plans for the Interstate Highway System did not include a north–south connection between I-10 and I-20 within Louisiana. In 1965, Governor John McKeithen proposed a toll road to perform this function and extend it to New Orleans as well, but the idea was never carried out.[6] In the mid-1970s, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved an Interstate Highway to run between US 190 in Opelousas and I-20 in Shreveport, a route that was designated as I-49 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in the summer of 1977.[2] The mileage was gained from mileage released from other highways the states did not build as well as 153 miles (246 km) from a supplemental reserve.[7] In 1981, AASHTO approved a slight extension of the designation along the existing route of US 167 from Opelousas south to I-10 in Lafayette.[8] In its early history, I-49 was commonly referred to as the North–South Expressway.[6]

Construction of I-49 began in 1981 between Opelousas and the small town of Washington.[9][10] This segment joined the portion running concurrent with US 167, an existing limited-access highway, and was completed by 1983.[10][11] By the following year, virtually all remaining rural portions of the route were under construction,[11][12] and 95 percent of this mileage was completed and opened to traffic between late 1987 and late 1989.[13][14] The remaining portions running through the urban centers of Alexandria and Shreveport required a much greater expenditure of time and funding. The entire length of the 212-mile (341 km) road was completed on May 1, 1996, with the opening of a 16.6-mile (26.7 km) section in downtown Alexandria named the Martin Luther King Jr. Highway. The total cost of I-49's construction was about $1.38 billion (equivalent to $2.48 billion in 2023[15]).[7]

"Interstate 49 North" was a 36-mile (58 km) construction project that extended the highway from I-20 in Shreveport to the Arkansas state line and was divided into 11 segments. On November 27, 2013, the first 18.9-mile (30.4 km) section between LA 1 and US 71 opened to traffic,[16] and the extension to a point just south of the Arkansas state line opened in March 2014.[17] On May 31, 2017, a 4.25-mile (6.84 km) portion between LA 3194 (Martin Luther King Jr. Drive) and LA 1 in Shreveport was opened to northbound traffic.[18] On June 15, 2018, the entire 5.25-mile (8.45 km) portion of I-49 between I-220 and LA 1, including an interchange with I-220, was opened to traffic.[19] The remaining interchange ramps opened to traffic on October 17, 2018.[20]

Arkansas and Missouri edit

Arkansas and Missouri pursued an I-49 designation for US 71 and I-540 for many years. In the early 2000s, there were plans by both states to rename the roadway as such between I-44 west of Joplin and I-40 at Fort Smith once a new bypass of US 71 had been completed around Bella Vista, Arkansas, and north to Pineville, Missouri.[21] However, the AASHTO Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbers and Interstate Highways denied the I-49 designation at their annual meeting in September 2007 because none of the new roadway was yet under construction.[22] During this time, there was also some debate as to whether the I-29 designation should be extended farther south from its current terminus in Kansas City to either Joplin or all the way to Fort Smith.[23]

 
Ghost ramp at the northern end of the Bella Vista Bypass in 2011; the bypass was built and opened on October 1, 2021.
 
I-49 milepost marker south of Carthage, Missouri, temporarily turned so as not to be visible to traffic in April 2012.

The I-49 designation, consisting of 180 miles (290 km) in Missouri, became official at noon on December 12, 2012.[24] The designation applies to current US 71 between I-435 in south Kansas City and Route H at Pineville (McDonald County), which was expanded to Interstate standards beginning in 2010.[25] The last of the expansion projects was completed in December 2012. I-49 also runs concurrently with I-44 between exits 11 and 18 east of Joplin.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) began installing I-49 trailblazer signage (without shields) along with gantry signs and milemarkers, about 1200 signs in all, in February 2012. Signage bearing I-49 shields was covered or turned from view until the I-49 designation received final approval by FHWA. This includes milemarkers at 0.2-mile (0.32 km) intervals along the entire alignment apart from I-44.[25]

The US 71 expansion involved removing all at-grade intersections and constructing interchanges and overpasses at 15 sites between Harrisonville and Lamar. The two-year project represented a shift in funding priorities for MoDOT, which, in 2007, announced the indefinite postponement of its portion of the Bella Vista bypass project, citing a $139-million (equivalent to $197 million in 2023[15]) funding gap in Arkansas between construction costs and toll revenues, and Arkansas's commitment to only a two-lane bypass constructed over six years.[26] MoDOT announced the Joplin-to-Kansas City expansion of US 71 in August 2010, to be done with the intention of bringing the I-49 designation to Missouri.[27]

Most of the 10.2-mile (16.4 km) corridor in Kansas City, constructed between 1990 and 2001,[28] was built to Interstate standards. However, three at-grade intersections—at Gregory Boulevard (71st Street), 59th Street, and 55th Street—prevent the I-49 designation from being extended all the way to downtown. All three of these intersections were on the Kansas City Police Department's 2010 list of "Top 20 Crash Sites in Kansas City", at #9, #6 and #4, respectively,[29] and Watkins Drive has the reputation among commuters as "one of the city's most accident-prone stretches of road".[30] Many neighborhood associations in Kansas City have historically objected to expanding Watkins Drive to a freeway.[31] MoDOT has gone on record stating a court order keeps them from removing the stoplights, making conversion of this stretch unlikely. A MoDOT blog post says "Ample right of way was acquired to someday allow MoDOT to reconstruct the three signal-controlled, at-grade intersections to grade-separated interchanges, allowing traffic on Bruce R. Watkins Drive to flow unimpeded. Neither MoDOT nor the city of Kansas City can initiate this change. It is up to the citizens, who must raise the issue again through the court system to amend the class-action agreement."[32]

The I-49 designation carries through the Three Trails Crossing (aka the Grandview Triangle) interchange to guide motorists onto US 71 north of I-435 and terminates north of I-435 and south of Bannister Road (Route W) around the 190.0 mile marker.[citation needed] From this point north, US 71 follows Bruce R. Watkins Drive,[33] a parkway which directly connects the I-70/I-670 interchange in downtown Kansas City, as well as the I-35/I-29/I-70 interchange just to the north, to south Kansas City and I-435, I-470, and I-49.

I-130, a former future designation from 2000 to 2014, was removed and no longer exists as part of the Texarkana Loop.[34]

Southern Arkansas segment edit

 
First reassurance marker on AR 549 north of US 71 near Texarkana

A temporary designation of AR 549 had been assigned to I-49 between US 71 north of Texarkana and Doddridge, five miles (8.0 km) from the state line.[35]

I-49 has now been completed to the state line. "Future I-49" segments extending northward from Texarkana, Arkansas, plus segments from Doddridge south into Louisiana were shown on the official Arkansas 2013 Highway Map.[36] The route was completed and signed as I-49 in late 2014.[citation needed]

Bella Vista Bypass edit

 
Ray LaHood (center) addresses attendees at the Bella Vista Bypass groundbreaking ceremony on June 8, 2011
 
New location of AR 72 near Hiwasse, Arkansas, in order to accommodate an interchange with the future Bella Vista Bypass (to the right)

North of I-40, I-49 previously ended south of Bella Vista prior to October 1, 2021, about eight miles (13 km) south of the Missouri state line. Travelers were forced to travel north on 15 miles (24 km) of four-lane US 71 with intersections, traffic signals, lower speed limits, and congestion before the present northern segment of I-49 began at Pineville, Missouri. The completion of the 19-mile (31 km) "Bella Vista Bypass" between Bella Vista, Arkansas, and Pineville, Missouri filled the gap and made I-49 a continuous route from Kansas City to Alma, Arkansas.

A major hurdle to the construction of the bypass over the years was funding. The 2010 TIGER grant application submitted by the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) estimated the total cost for completion in Arkansas as $291.8 million (equivalent to $398 million in 2023[15]). The document states the portion of the bypass in Arkansas is "proposed to be constructed as a toll facility, while the Missouri portion of the Bypass will be constructed as a free route".[37]

On August 11, 2010, the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced $10 million (equivalent to $13.6 million in 2023[15]) in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant funding to construct a portion of the new four-lane bypass, though the funding covered only a two-lane segment 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long. Groundbreaking occurred on July 8, 2011, with a public ceremony that included Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, and Senator Mark Pryor. The USDOT news release refers to the project as part of the "I-49 corridor", effectively ending questions about how the new highway would be numbered.[38] The following year, the segment between AR 72 north and County Road 34 was let.[39] In March 2014, AHTD anticipated completion of this first segment between AR 72 north and AR 72 south in spring 2014, and the next section in autumn 2014.[40] However, AR 549 between AR 72 and County Road 34 was not completed and opened until August 22, 2015.[41]

Following the passing of a ten-year half-cent sales tax measure in 2012, AHTD had acquired sufficient additional revenue to fund the southbound half of the Bella Vista Bypass without tolls.[42] Since design work had been completed prior to passing the measure, AHTD was able to let the segment between AR 72 and U.S. Route 71 Business (US 71B) in February 2014 as the first job of the Connecting Arkansas Program.[43][44] AHTD anticipated completion of this project in 2016.[40]

In 2012, Missouri still had $40 million (equivalent to $52.5 million in 2023[15]) available for construction of its portion of the Bella Vista bypass from Pineville to the Arkansas state line. MoDOT's I-49 project manager said in an interview that "[MoDOT has] told Arkansas that whatever schedule it sets, we will meet them at the state line."[45] However, once Arkansas began building toward the state line, it was revealed that Missouri was $25 million (equivalent to $32.2 million in 2023[15]) short of the necessary funds to complete their section.[46] A ballot initiative was defeated in August 2014 in Missouri, which put the project on hold for nearly five years.[47]

The only Arkansas project remaining for a fully operational two-lane bypass was the 7.6-mile (12.2 km) section between County Road 34 and the Missouri state line; however, was is listed as TBD by AHTD.[40] Design work was complete for the roadway project and was anticipated to be complete in 2015 for the interchange. Construction of the roadway was anticipated to be complete in 2017, assuming a one-year delay related to Missouri funding.[48] Construction on the interchange was tentatively scheduled to be complete in 2018.[48] The final segment from Rocky Dell Hollow Road to the Missouri border was scheduled to be completed with all four lanes by late 2021 to meet up with the Missouri segment. Widening this segment was begun in 2020.[49]

On May 10, 2017, a 6.4-mile (10.3 km) segment of the bypass between the existing five-mile (8.0 km) segment near Hiwasse, Arkansas, and a new temporary roundabout interchange with I-49 and US 71 near Bentonville, Arkansas, opened after three years of construction and costed over $50 million (equivalent to $61.1 million in 2023[15]) to complete.[50]

In March 2019, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approved funding for the completion of the Bella Vista Bypass.[51] Construction bids were approved in early April 2020, and construction was expected to finish in Arkansas by late 2021.[52] The remaining 4.8 miles (7.7 km) in Missouri were also slated to be completed by late 2021. Once Missouri completed this portion, the gap closed, and four contiguous lanes of freeway from the Kansas City region to Alma, Arkansas, near the Fort Smith area was completed. The Bella Vista Bypass opened to traffic on October 1, 2021.[53]

Future edit

Southern Louisiana segment edit

 
Future corridor I-49 sign in Lafayette, Louisiana

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is working to extend I-49 from Lafayette southeast to New Orleans along the route of US 90, which is a divided four-lane highway between the two cities. This segment is listed under High Priority Corridor 37.[54] Some portions, such as the freeway between Morgan City and the Raceland area, are already built to Interstate standards.[citation needed]

In the Lafayette area, the project is divided into two projects, the I-49 Lafayette Connector and the expansion of US 90 from Lafayette Regional Airport to the LA 88 interchange.[55] The I-49 Lafayette Connector underwent a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement study and Conceptual Design Study due to refinements to the alignment originally approved in the February 2003 Record of Decision. It is planned to be a six-lane elevated freeway, mostly utilizing the Evangeline Thruway corridor, except for a segment paralleling the BNSF/Union Pacific railroad line to serve the downtown area.[56] Planning for this segment has been ongoing for decades, but construction has been delayed numerous times due to local opposition. The most recent attempt to begin construction was halted due to federal officials launching a civil rights investigation into the project in early 2023.[57] The rest of the freeway from the airport to LA 88 will be an at-grade six-lane freeway with a two-mile (3.2 km) segment of eight-lane elevated freeway through the suburb of Broussard. Work on this segment began on November 15, 2022.[58]

US 90 between LA 88 and LA 182 west of Wax Lake is already widened to Interstate standards, including a former at-grade intersection with LA 318 south of Jeanerette, which was converted to a grade-separated interchange with frontage roads for local access.[59] From Wax Lake to the Atchafalaya River bridge at Morgan City, US 90 is a four-lane divided at-grade expressway. A Supplemental EIS is ongoing to expand that segment to interstate standards.[citation needed]

The Raceland–New Orleans segment of the proposed I-49 South was originally approved in 2008 with a Record of Decision for a fully elevated freeway on a mostly new alignment along the entire length. However, in 2014, DOTD launched a study to consider less expensive alternatives and to expedite design and construction of that segment.[60] The resulting design changes greatly reduced costs by incorporating much of the existing US 90 corridor, save for bypasses of Des Allemands and Paradis, as well as a revised connection with I-310/LA 3127. A Supplemental EIS is ongoing for that segment to finalize these changes.[citation needed]

In the immediate New Orleans area, I-49 is planned to follow the route of US 90 Bus., much of which is an elevated freeway. US 90 Bus. follows the Westbank Expressway through Westwego, Gretna, and Algiers. It then crosses Crescent City Connection over the Mississippi River into Downtown New Orleans and continues onto the Pontchartrain Expressway to an interchange with I-10. "Future I-49" signage is visible along US 90 and US 90 Bus., although, as of 2017, construction has yet to begin.[citation needed]

Shreveport segment edit

In addition to the southern extension, Louisiana officials are also working on the completion of I-49 from Shreveport to the Arkansas state line. Options for the remaining gap between I-20 and I-220 in Shreveport include the proposed Inner-City Connector, a 3.6-mile (5.8 km) direct connection between the completed portions of I-49.[61] A no-build proposal is to reroute I-49 onto existing portions of LA 3132 (Inner Loop Expressway) and I-220 through Shreveport.[62] Opposition regarding the direct routing through the historic Allendale neighborhood led to new proposal that would also provide a direct connection to the completed I-49, but loop around the neighborhood instead of going through it. The proposal was made public on January 20, 2023,[63] but public opposition to the connector remains strong.[64]

Texas edit

North of Texarkana, I-49 will briefly venture into Texas for about five miles (8.0 km) before turning northwest and crossing the Red River of the South to re-enter Arkansas. How the mileposts and the exits will be numbered once the Interstate returns to Arkansas have yet to be determined and TxDOT currently has no plans to construct this segment.[65]

Central Arkansas segment edit

The 180-mile (290 km) section between Texarkana and Fort Smith remains largely incomplete. Right-of-way has been acquired and engineering has been completed, but construction is contingent upon allocating funding to the corridor.[66] After applying for and receiving assistance from the 2012 TIGER grant program, ArDOT began construction on the new path for I-49 towards US 71 south of Fort Smith, bypassing Van Buren and Fort Smith. Work is now complete between US 71 and AR 22 near Fort Chaffee as the first and southernmost phase of the extension of I-49 bypassing I-540. The project is explicitly mentioned as an effort to complete I-49 in the TIGER grant application.[67] Colloquially referred to as "Chaffee Crossing", this first phase was completed on July 15, 2015, at the AR 549 and AR 22 Interchange A groundbreaking on the segment to I-40 occurred on October 13, 2022; this segment is estimated to cost $800 million, almost half of which is going to the bridge over the Arkansas River. Construction on this project will start in early 2024 and last five to six years.[68][69][70] South of this segment, I-49 is planned to follow the general route of US 71 through the state between I-30 and I-40.[71]

Junction list edit

Louisiana
    I-10 / US 167 / LA 182 in Lafayette. I-49 and US 167 travel concurrently to a point between Opelousas and Washington.
  US 190 east of Opelousas
  US 167 south of Lecompte
   US 71 / US 167 in Alexandria. I-49 and US 167 travel concurrently into downtown Alexandria.
   US 71 / US 165 in Alexandria
  US 371 southwest of Coushatta
  US 84 west of Grand Bayou
  LA 3132 in Shreveport. Freeway carrying through traffic bound for I-20 west and northern segment of I-49.
  I-20 in Shreveport
Gap in route
  I-220 in Shreveport
  US 71 between Gilliam and Hosston
Arkansas
  US 71 south-southeast of Doddridge
  US 71 south of Fouke
  US 71 in Texarkana
  US 82 in Texarkana
  US 67 in Texarkana
  I-30 in Texarkana
Arkansas–Texas line
   US 59 / US 71 north of Texarkana
Texas
Not finished
Arkansas
  US 71 in Fort Smith
Gap in route
   I-40 / US 71 in Alma
  US 71 in Fayetteville. The highways travel concurrently to Bentonville.
  US 62 in Fayetteville. The highways travel concurrently to Bentonville.
  US 412 in Springdale
   US 71B / US 71 in Bentonville
Missouri
  US 71 south of Pineville. The highways travel concurrently to Kansas City.
  US 60 in Neosho
  I-44 south-southwest of Duenweg. The highways travel concurrently to Fidelity.
  US 160 in Lamar
  US 54 in Nevada
     I-435 / I-470 / US 50 / US 71 in Kansas City

[72]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Starks, Edward (January 27, 2022). "Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways". FHWA Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (July 6, 1977). "Route Numbering Committee Agenda" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. p. 2. Retrieved January 19, 2016 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  3. ^ . Missouri Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on July 10, 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  4. ^ Nadeau, Gregory G (March 28, 2014). (PDF). Letter to Scott E. Bennett. Federal Highway Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 27, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Moving northward". Morning Advocate. Baton Rouge. April 9, 1986. p. 3B.
  6. ^ a b "Previous Facts of the Day". 50th Anniversary Interstate Highway System. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  7. ^ Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (October 3, 1981). "Route Numbering Committee Agenda" (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. p. 2. Retrieved January 19, 2016 – via Wikisource.
  8. ^ Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (1979). Louisiana (Map) (1980 ed.). Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.
  9. ^ a b Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (1981). Louisiana (Map). Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.
  10. ^ a b Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (1983). Louisiana (Map). Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.
  11. ^ Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (1984). Louisiana (Map). Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.
  12. ^ Leblanc, Doug (March 29, 1987). "Interstate 49 Expected to be Finished by 1991". Sunday Advocate. Baton Rouge. p. 1B.
  13. ^ "New Stretch of Interstate to be Opened". Morning Advocate. Baton Rouge. November 10, 1989. p. 7B.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
  15. ^ . Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Archived from the original on November 19, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  16. ^ Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. . Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Archived from the original on June 16, 2016. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  17. ^ Heyen, Curtis (May 30, 2017). "Louisiana to Open Part of New Stretch of I-49 on Wednesday". Shreveport, LA: KSLA News 12. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  18. ^ KSLA Staff. "LaDOTD opens new ramps along I-49, I-220 in Caddo". Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  19. ^ "New Shreveport I-49, I-220 interchange officially opens". shreveporttimes.com. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  20. ^ Kennedy, Wally (May 11, 2007). "Plan Holds 2008 Finish for Range Line Bypass". The Joplin Globe. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  21. ^ Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (September 29, 2007). (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 16, 2017.[page needed]
  22. ^ . AARoads. June 9, 2002. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  23. ^ . Kansas City Star. September 2, 2012. Archived from the original on September 6, 2012.
  24. ^ a b Southwest District Office. (Press release). Missouri Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  25. ^ . Joplin Independent. October 15, 2007. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  26. ^ Community Relations Office (August 4, 2010). "I-49 Coming to Missouri" (Press release). Missouri Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  27. ^ Porter, Steve (July 28, 2009). (Press release). Missouri Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on June 1, 2010.
  28. ^ "Kansas City PD Top 20 Crash Sites, 2010" (PDF). Kansas City, MO: KMBC-TV. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022.[permanent dead link]
  29. ^ Wilson, Susan B. (June 15, 2010). "No Changes in Store for Controversial Bruce R Watkins Drive". Kansas City, MO: KCUR-FM. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  30. ^ Ortega, Tony (May 26, 2005). . The Pitch. Kansas City, MO. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  31. ^ (PDF). Summary of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Briefings. Missouri Department of Transportation. March 10, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  32. ^ (PDF). Pathways. Missouri Department of Transportation. Fall 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 12, 2008.
  33. ^ Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. "AHTD List of ARRA projects" (PDF). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. (Though both are labeled "Hwy. 71" here, as described #030325 is AR 245/future I-130 & I-49, while #030354 is AR 549/future I-49.)
  34. ^ Whatley, Jeff (May 13, 2013). (PDF) (Press release). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  35. ^ (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 29, 2014.[full citation needed]
  36. ^ Staff (August 23, 2010). (PDF). TIGER II Discretionary Grant Program 2010. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 5, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  37. ^ "U.S. Department of Transportation, Arkansas Agreement Clears Way for Construction on Bella Vista Bypass" (Press release). Federal Highway Administration. August 11, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  38. ^ (PDF). Construction Documents. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. March 7, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 11, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  39. ^ a b c Bennett, Scott (March 5, 2014). (PDF). Fayetteville, AR: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 11, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  40. ^ "Second section of Bella Vista Bypass opened to traffic". NWADG.com. August 22, 2015.
  41. ^ Smith, Jamie (April 9, 2013). . The City Wire. Archived from the original on May 14, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  42. ^ (PDF). Construction Documents. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 11, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  43. ^ . Little Rock, AR: KTHV. February 26, 2014. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  44. ^ . Kansas City, MO: KMBC-TV. December 11, 2012. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  45. ^ Kargas, Marissa; Leach, Sean (September 12, 2013). . NWA Homepage. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  46. ^ Moritz, Rob (September 12, 2013). . The Southwest Times Record. Fort Smith, AR. Arkansas News Bureau. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  47. ^ a b . Connecting Arkansas Program. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. February 26, 2014. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  48. ^ Wood, Ron (April 9, 2020). "End in sight for completing Interstate 49 around Bella Vista". McDonald County Press.
  49. ^ Kathryn Gilker (May 10, 2017). "New Portion Of I-49 Bypass Complete In Bella Vista". 5News. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  50. ^ Della Rosa, Jeff (March 6, 2019). "Missouri to complete its part of Bella Vista Bypass by 2022". Talk Business & Politics.
  51. ^ Ostmeyer, Andy (April 2, 2020). "Missouri awards contract for its share of Bella Vista bypass". Joplin Globe.
  52. ^ "I-49 Bella Vista bypass now complete". Fayetteville Flyer. October 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  53. ^ "Statutory Listing of Corridor Descriptions - High Priority Corridors - National Highway System - Planning - FHWA". www.fhwa.dot.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  54. ^ "I-49 Lafayette Connector". I-49 Lafayette Connector. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  55. ^ "I-49 Lafayette Connector: How We Got Here". The Advertiser. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  56. ^ Marcantel, Stephen (March 1, 2023). "How a civil rights investigation could alter the I-49 Connector". The Current. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  57. ^ "Governor, local officials, kick off future I-49 construction; here's what it will look like". The Advocate. November 15, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  58. ^ . Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
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  64. ^ (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2014.
  65. ^ (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2014.
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External links edit

KML is from Wikidata
  • Interstate Guide: I-49
  • I-49 Energy Corridor February 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  • (Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development)
  • I-49 Report February 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  • Interstate49.org
  • I-49 Inner-City Connector-Shreveport
  • I-49 Inner City Connector map(Shreveport, LA)
  • (Lafayette, LA)
  • Future I-49 South Pictures (Stephen Gantry)
  • Future I-49 South Pictures (Andy P. Jung)
  • Arkansas Highway & Transportation Dept. - Bella Vista Bypass July 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  • I-49 Lafayette Connector
  • DOTD-launched study on Raceland–New Orleans I-49 segment February 24, 2017, at the Wayback Machine

interstate, north, south, interstate, highway, that, exists, multiple, segments, original, portion, entirely, within, state, louisiana, with, additional, signed, portion, extending, from, shreveport, arkansas, state, line, three, newer, sections, arkansas, sec. Interstate 49 I 49 is a north south Interstate Highway that exists in multiple segments the original portion entirely within the state of Louisiana with an additional signed portion extending from I 220 in Shreveport to the Arkansas state line three newer sections in Arkansas and a new section that opened in Missouri Its southern terminus is in Lafayette Louisiana at I 10 while its northern terminus is in Kansas City Missouri at I 435 and I 470 Portions of the remaining roadway in Louisiana Arkansas and Texas which will link Kansas City with New Orleans are in various stages of planning or construction Interstate 49I 49 highlighted in red AR 549 highlighted in blueRoute informationLength547 52 mi 1 881 15 km Existed1977 2 presentNHSEntire routeOriginal segmentSouth endI 10 US 167 LA 182 in Lafayette LAMajor intersectionsUS 71 in Alexandria LANorth endI 20 in Shreveport LANorthern Louisiana Southern Arkansas segmentSouth endI 220 in Shreveport LAMajor intersectionsI 30 in Texarkana ARNorth endUS 71 US 59 in Texarkana ARNorthern segmentSouth endI 40 US 71 in Alma ARMajor intersectionsI 44 near Joplin MONorth endI 435 I 470 US 50 US 71 in Kansas City MOLocationCountryUnited StatesStatesLouisiana Arkansas MissouriHighway systemInterstate Highway SystemMain Auxiliary Suffixed Business FutureAlthough not part of the original 1957 Interstate Highway plan residents of Missouri Arkansas and Louisiana began campaigning for the highway in 1965 via the US 71 I 29 Association The campaign called for I 29 to be extended south from Kansas City to New Orleans following much of the route along U S Route 71 US 71 The plan called for creating a limited access expressway from New Orleans to the Canadian border and on to Winnipeg via Manitoba Highway 75 When I 49 is complete the goal of the association will have been accomplished 3 with only a brief gap between the Grandview Triangle and I 29 at the Kansas City Downtown Loop served by US 71 Bruce R Watkins Memorial Drive or other Interstates such as I 435 and I 70 in Kansas City Contents 1 Route description 1 1 Louisiana 1 2 Arkansas 1 3 Missouri 2 History 2 1 Louisiana 2 2 Arkansas and Missouri 2 2 1 Southern Arkansas segment 2 2 2 Bella Vista Bypass 3 Future 3 1 Southern Louisiana segment 3 2 Shreveport segment 3 3 Texas 3 4 Central Arkansas segment 4 Junction list 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksRoute description editLengths mi 1 kmLA 239 25 385 04AR 124 31 200 06TXMO 183 96 296 05Total 547 52 881 15Louisiana edit nbsp I 49 near Chopin Louisiana 2009 Main article Interstate 49 in Louisiana The current southern terminus of I 49 is located at a cloverleaf interchange with I 10 and US 167 in the southern Louisiana city of Lafayette Southbound motorists continue through the interchange onto the Evangeline Thruway which transitions from a limited access portion of US 167 to a major divided thoroughfare that picks up the US 90 corridor heading through the heart of Lafayette I 49 begins its journey concurrent with US 167 as it travels northward through Carencro Sunset Grand Coteau and Opelousas US 167 departs from the Interstate s alignment at exit 23 between Opelousas and Washington and I 49 begins to take a northwesterly path through the heavily wooded rural terrain Various state highways provide access to the small towns and cities located along the parallel US 71 and US 167 corridors such as Lebeau Ville Platte Bunkie and Cheneyville After crossing US 167 I 49 travels between US 71 and US 165 into the Alexandria metropolitan area in central Louisiana I 49 travels through downtown Alexandria doubling as U S Highway 71 Bypass US 71 Byp and is also concurrent with portions of US 167 and Louisiana Highway 28 LA 28 Major interchanges with US 167 and US 71 lead to bridges that cross the Red River into the neighboring city of Pineville Continuing northwest from Alexandria I 49 parallels the Red River and LA 1 through Boyce and passes just west of the historic city of Natchitoches which is reached via LA 6 at exit 138 Between Natchitoches and Shreveport I 49 travels between LA 1 and US 171 and has junctions with US 371 and US 84 connecting with Coushatta and Mansfield respectively In Shreveport the Interstate heads directly into the downtown area and terminates at I 20 a route that facilitates eastbound traffic However through traffic bound for I 20 west and the northern segment of I 49 is directed to transfer onto LA 3132 at an interchange located about 5 5 miles 8 9 km south of this terminus LA 3132 is a western freeway bypass of Shreveport known as the Inner Loop Expressway that becomes I 220 upon intersecting I 20 On the northside of town motorists may exit I 220 and follow the next segment of I 49 which parallels US 71 into Arkansas The heaviest traffic on I 49 occurs within the cities of Shreveport and Opelousas The stretch of freeway in Shreveport sees an average of 70 000 vehicles per day while the stretch of freeway between Lafayette and Carencro sees an average of 55 000 vehicles per day and the stretch of freeway through Opelousas sees an average of 45 000 vehicles per day between the Judson Walsh Drive and Creswell Lane exits During the sugarcane season there are a large number of trucks and tractors pulling heavy cane wagons causing traffic congestion and accidents 4 Arkansas edit nbsp I 49 rises into the Ozark Mountains south of Fayetteville Main article Interstate 49 in Arkansas I 49 in Arkansas is composed of three disconnected segments northern southern and a short connector skirting Fort Smith near Fort Chaffee that is currently designated as AR 549 The southern segment of I 49 enters Arkansas from Louisiana The short segment progresses northward to a temporary terminus at US 71 and US 59 at the Texas state line north of Texarkana The northern segment of I 49 in Arkansas most of which was formerly signed as part of I 540 begins at I 40 in Alma and runs north to Northwest Arkansas through the Boston Mountains The freeway passes through steep sparsely populated terrain before entering the Bobby Hopper Tunnel in Washington County Entering Northwest Arkansas I 49 has seven exits for Fayetteville and three exits for Springdale before entering Benton County The route serves as the boundary between Bentonville and Rogers with seven exits for the two cities After an interchange with US 71 just south of the Bentonville Bella Vista city line I 49 follows the Bella Vista Bypass which runs to the south and west of Bella Vista before crossing into Missouri I 49 is designated as the Boston Mountains Scenic Loop between Alma and Fayetteville The I 49 designation replaced the I 540 designation through Northwest Arkansas in March 2014 5 with the exception of the Bella Vista Bypass which was constructed between July 2011 and October 2021 Missouri edit Main article Interstate 49 in Missouri I 49 enters Missouri from Arkansas on the Bella Vista Bypass eventually reuniting with US 71 south of Pineville Continuing northward I 49 passes through several smaller communities including Neosho before reaching Joplin In Joplin I 49 junctions with I 44 and begins a short concurrency with I 44 for exits 11 through 18 Just a few miles east of Joplin I 49 leaves I 44 and heads north and enters Carthage intersecting with Interstate 49 Business I 49 Bus Route 171 which provides an alternate route for northbound I 49 travelers through Joplin I 49 then passes through Nevada and other communities before reaching the Kansas City area I 49 intersects with I 470 and I 435 which provides connection to I 70 I 35 and I 29 In south Kansas City at Bannister Road just north of the Grandview Triangle the I 49 designation ends and the freeway continues as Interstate 435 north to I 70 west and the expressway continues as US 71 which proceeds into downtown Kansas City as Bruce R Watkins Memorial Drive History editLouisiana edit The original plans for the Interstate Highway System did not include a north south connection between I 10 and I 20 within Louisiana In 1965 Governor John McKeithen proposed a toll road to perform this function and extend it to New Orleans as well but the idea was never carried out 6 In the mid 1970s the Federal Highway Administration FHWA approved an Interstate Highway to run between US 190 in Opelousas and I 20 in Shreveport a route that was designated as I 49 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials AASHTO in the summer of 1977 2 The mileage was gained from mileage released from other highways the states did not build as well as 153 miles 246 km from a supplemental reserve 7 In 1981 AASHTO approved a slight extension of the designation along the existing route of US 167 from Opelousas south to I 10 in Lafayette 8 In its early history I 49 was commonly referred to as the North South Expressway 6 Construction of I 49 began in 1981 between Opelousas and the small town of Washington 9 10 This segment joined the portion running concurrent with US 167 an existing limited access highway and was completed by 1983 10 11 By the following year virtually all remaining rural portions of the route were under construction 11 12 and 95 percent of this mileage was completed and opened to traffic between late 1987 and late 1989 13 14 The remaining portions running through the urban centers of Alexandria and Shreveport required a much greater expenditure of time and funding The entire length of the 212 mile 341 km road was completed on May 1 1996 with the opening of a 16 6 mile 26 7 km section in downtown Alexandria named the Martin Luther King Jr Highway The total cost of I 49 s construction was about 1 38 billion equivalent to 2 48 billion in 2023 15 7 Interstate 49 North was a 36 mile 58 km construction project that extended the highway from I 20 in Shreveport to the Arkansas state line and was divided into 11 segments On November 27 2013 the first 18 9 mile 30 4 km section between LA 1 and US 71 opened to traffic 16 and the extension to a point just south of the Arkansas state line opened in March 2014 17 On May 31 2017 a 4 25 mile 6 84 km portion between LA 3194 Martin Luther King Jr Drive and LA 1 in Shreveport was opened to northbound traffic 18 On June 15 2018 the entire 5 25 mile 8 45 km portion of I 49 between I 220 and LA 1 including an interchange with I 220 was opened to traffic 19 The remaining interchange ramps opened to traffic on October 17 2018 20 Arkansas and Missouri edit Arkansas and Missouri pursued an I 49 designation for US 71 and I 540 for many years In the early 2000s there were plans by both states to rename the roadway as such between I 44 west of Joplin and I 40 at Fort Smith once a new bypass of US 71 had been completed around Bella Vista Arkansas and north to Pineville Missouri 21 However the AASHTO Special Committee on U S Route Numbers and Interstate Highways denied the I 49 designation at their annual meeting in September 2007 because none of the new roadway was yet under construction 22 During this time there was also some debate as to whether the I 29 designation should be extended farther south from its current terminus in Kansas City to either Joplin or all the way to Fort Smith 23 nbsp Ghost ramp at the northern end of the Bella Vista Bypass in 2011 the bypass was built and opened on October 1 2021 nbsp I 49 milepost marker south of Carthage Missouri temporarily turned so as not to be visible to traffic in April 2012 The I 49 designation consisting of 180 miles 290 km in Missouri became official at noon on December 12 2012 24 The designation applies to current US 71 between I 435 in south Kansas City and Route H at Pineville McDonald County which was expanded to Interstate standards beginning in 2010 25 The last of the expansion projects was completed in December 2012 I 49 also runs concurrently with I 44 between exits 11 and 18 east of Joplin The Missouri Department of Transportation MoDOT began installing I 49 trailblazer signage without shields along with gantry signs and milemarkers about 1200 signs in all in February 2012 Signage bearing I 49 shields was covered or turned from view until the I 49 designation received final approval by FHWA This includes milemarkers at 0 2 mile 0 32 km intervals along the entire alignment apart from I 44 25 The US 71 expansion involved removing all at grade intersections and constructing interchanges and overpasses at 15 sites between Harrisonville and Lamar The two year project represented a shift in funding priorities for MoDOT which in 2007 announced the indefinite postponement of its portion of the Bella Vista bypass project citing a 139 million equivalent to 197 million in 2023 15 funding gap in Arkansas between construction costs and toll revenues and Arkansas s commitment to only a two lane bypass constructed over six years 26 MoDOT announced the Joplin to Kansas City expansion of US 71 in August 2010 to be done with the intention of bringing the I 49 designation to Missouri 27 Most of the 10 2 mile 16 4 km corridor in Kansas City constructed between 1990 and 2001 28 was built to Interstate standards However three at grade intersections at Gregory Boulevard 71st Street 59th Street and 55th Street prevent the I 49 designation from being extended all the way to downtown All three of these intersections were on the Kansas City Police Department s 2010 list of Top 20 Crash Sites in Kansas City at 9 6 and 4 respectively 29 and Watkins Drive has the reputation among commuters as one of the city s most accident prone stretches of road 30 Many neighborhood associations in Kansas City have historically objected to expanding Watkins Drive to a freeway 31 MoDOT has gone on record stating a court order keeps them from removing the stoplights making conversion of this stretch unlikely A MoDOT blog post says Ample right of way was acquired to someday allow MoDOT to reconstruct the three signal controlled at grade intersections to grade separated interchanges allowing traffic on Bruce R Watkins Drive to flow unimpeded Neither MoDOT nor the city of Kansas City can initiate this change It is up to the citizens who must raise the issue again through the court system to amend the class action agreement 32 The I 49 designation carries through the Three Trails Crossing aka the Grandview Triangle interchange to guide motorists onto US 71 north of I 435 and terminates north of I 435 and south of Bannister Road Route W around the 190 0 mile marker citation needed From this point north US 71 follows Bruce R Watkins Drive 33 a parkway which directly connects the I 70 I 670 interchange in downtown Kansas City as well as the I 35 I 29 I 70 interchange just to the north to south Kansas City and I 435 I 470 and I 49 I 130 a former future designation from 2000 to 2014 was removed and no longer exists as part of the Texarkana Loop 34 Southern Arkansas segment edit nbsp First reassurance marker on AR 549 north of US 71 near TexarkanaA temporary designation of AR 549 had been assigned to I 49 between US 71 north of Texarkana and Doddridge five miles 8 0 km from the state line 35 I 49 has now been completed to the state line Future I 49 segments extending northward from Texarkana Arkansas plus segments from Doddridge south into Louisiana were shown on the official Arkansas 2013 Highway Map 36 The route was completed and signed as I 49 in late 2014 citation needed Bella Vista Bypass edit nbsp Ray LaHood center addresses attendees at the Bella Vista Bypass groundbreaking ceremony on June 8 2011 nbsp New location of AR 72 near Hiwasse Arkansas in order to accommodate an interchange with the future Bella Vista Bypass to the right North of I 40 I 49 previously ended south of Bella Vista prior to October 1 2021 about eight miles 13 km south of the Missouri state line Travelers were forced to travel north on 15 miles 24 km of four lane US 71 with intersections traffic signals lower speed limits and congestion before the present northern segment of I 49 began at Pineville Missouri The completion of the 19 mile 31 km Bella Vista Bypass between Bella Vista Arkansas and Pineville Missouri filled the gap and made I 49 a continuous route from Kansas City to Alma Arkansas A major hurdle to the construction of the bypass over the years was funding The 2010 TIGER grant application submitted by the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department AHTD estimated the total cost for completion in Arkansas as 291 8 million equivalent to 398 million in 2023 15 The document states the portion of the bypass in Arkansas is proposed to be constructed as a toll facility while the Missouri portion of the Bypass will be constructed as a free route 37 On August 11 2010 the US Department of Transportation USDOT announced 10 million equivalent to 13 6 million in 2023 15 in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery TIGER grant funding to construct a portion of the new four lane bypass though the funding covered only a two lane segment 2 5 miles 4 0 km long Groundbreaking occurred on July 8 2011 with a public ceremony that included Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe and Senator Mark Pryor The USDOT news release refers to the project as part of the I 49 corridor effectively ending questions about how the new highway would be numbered 38 The following year the segment between AR 72 north and County Road 34 was let 39 In March 2014 AHTD anticipated completion of this first segment between AR 72 north and AR 72 south in spring 2014 and the next section in autumn 2014 40 However AR 549 between AR 72 and County Road 34 was not completed and opened until August 22 2015 41 Following the passing of a ten year half cent sales tax measure in 2012 AHTD had acquired sufficient additional revenue to fund the southbound half of the Bella Vista Bypass without tolls 42 Since design work had been completed prior to passing the measure AHTD was able to let the segment between AR 72 and U S Route 71 Business US 71B in February 2014 as the first job of the Connecting Arkansas Program 43 44 AHTD anticipated completion of this project in 2016 40 In 2012 Missouri still had 40 million equivalent to 52 5 million in 2023 15 available for construction of its portion of the Bella Vista bypass from Pineville to the Arkansas state line MoDOT s I 49 project manager said in an interview that MoDOT has told Arkansas that whatever schedule it sets we will meet them at the state line 45 However once Arkansas began building toward the state line it was revealed that Missouri was 25 million equivalent to 32 2 million in 2023 15 short of the necessary funds to complete their section 46 A ballot initiative was defeated in August 2014 in Missouri which put the project on hold for nearly five years 47 The only Arkansas project remaining for a fully operational two lane bypass was the 7 6 mile 12 2 km section between County Road 34 and the Missouri state line however was is listed as TBD by AHTD 40 Design work was complete for the roadway project and was anticipated to be complete in 2015 for the interchange Construction of the roadway was anticipated to be complete in 2017 assuming a one year delay related to Missouri funding 48 Construction on the interchange was tentatively scheduled to be complete in 2018 48 The final segment from Rocky Dell Hollow Road to the Missouri border was scheduled to be completed with all four lanes by late 2021 to meet up with the Missouri segment Widening this segment was begun in 2020 49 On May 10 2017 a 6 4 mile 10 3 km segment of the bypass between the existing five mile 8 0 km segment near Hiwasse Arkansas and a new temporary roundabout interchange with I 49 and US 71 near Bentonville Arkansas opened after three years of construction and costed over 50 million equivalent to 61 1 million in 2023 15 to complete 50 In March 2019 the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approved funding for the completion of the Bella Vista Bypass 51 Construction bids were approved in early April 2020 and construction was expected to finish in Arkansas by late 2021 52 The remaining 4 8 miles 7 7 km in Missouri were also slated to be completed by late 2021 Once Missouri completed this portion the gap closed and four contiguous lanes of freeway from the Kansas City region to Alma Arkansas near the Fort Smith area was completed The Bella Vista Bypass opened to traffic on October 1 2021 53 Future editSouthern Louisiana segment edit nbsp Future corridor I 49 sign in Lafayette LouisianaThe Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development DOTD is working to extend I 49 from Lafayette southeast to New Orleans along the route of US 90 which is a divided four lane highway between the two cities This segment is listed under High Priority Corridor 37 54 Some portions such as the freeway between Morgan City and the Raceland area are already built to Interstate standards citation needed In the Lafayette area the project is divided into two projects the I 49 Lafayette Connector and the expansion of US 90 from Lafayette Regional Airport to the LA 88 interchange 55 The I 49 Lafayette Connector underwent a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement study and Conceptual Design Study due to refinements to the alignment originally approved in the February 2003 Record of Decision It is planned to be a six lane elevated freeway mostly utilizing the Evangeline Thruway corridor except for a segment paralleling the BNSF Union Pacific railroad line to serve the downtown area 56 Planning for this segment has been ongoing for decades but construction has been delayed numerous times due to local opposition The most recent attempt to begin construction was halted due to federal officials launching a civil rights investigation into the project in early 2023 57 The rest of the freeway from the airport to LA 88 will be an at grade six lane freeway with a two mile 3 2 km segment of eight lane elevated freeway through the suburb of Broussard Work on this segment began on November 15 2022 58 US 90 between LA 88 and LA 182 west of Wax Lake is already widened to Interstate standards including a former at grade intersection with LA 318 south of Jeanerette which was converted to a grade separated interchange with frontage roads for local access 59 From Wax Lake to the Atchafalaya River bridge at Morgan City US 90 is a four lane divided at grade expressway A Supplemental EIS is ongoing to expand that segment to interstate standards citation needed The Raceland New Orleans segment of the proposed I 49 South was originally approved in 2008 with a Record of Decision for a fully elevated freeway on a mostly new alignment along the entire length However in 2014 DOTD launched a study to consider less expensive alternatives and to expedite design and construction of that segment 60 The resulting design changes greatly reduced costs by incorporating much of the existing US 90 corridor save for bypasses of Des Allemands and Paradis as well as a revised connection with I 310 LA 3127 A Supplemental EIS is ongoing for that segment to finalize these changes citation needed In the immediate New Orleans area I 49 is planned to follow the route of US 90 Bus much of which is an elevated freeway US 90 Bus follows the Westbank Expressway through Westwego Gretna and Algiers It then crosses Crescent City Connection over the Mississippi River into Downtown New Orleans and continues onto the Pontchartrain Expressway to an interchange with I 10 Future I 49 signage is visible along US 90 and US 90 Bus although as of 2017 update construction has yet to begin citation needed Shreveport segment edit In addition to the southern extension Louisiana officials are also working on the completion of I 49 from Shreveport to the Arkansas state line Options for the remaining gap between I 20 and I 220 in Shreveport include the proposed Inner City Connector a 3 6 mile 5 8 km direct connection between the completed portions of I 49 61 A no build proposal is to reroute I 49 onto existing portions of LA 3132 Inner Loop Expressway and I 220 through Shreveport 62 Opposition regarding the direct routing through the historic Allendale neighborhood led to new proposal that would also provide a direct connection to the completed I 49 but loop around the neighborhood instead of going through it The proposal was made public on January 20 2023 63 but public opposition to the connector remains strong 64 Texas edit North of Texarkana I 49 will briefly venture into Texas for about five miles 8 0 km before turning northwest and crossing the Red River of the South to re enter Arkansas How the mileposts and the exits will be numbered once the Interstate returns to Arkansas have yet to be determined and TxDOT currently has no plans to construct this segment 65 Central Arkansas segment edit The 180 mile 290 km section between Texarkana and Fort Smith remains largely incomplete Right of way has been acquired and engineering has been completed but construction is contingent upon allocating funding to the corridor 66 After applying for and receiving assistance from the 2012 TIGER grant program ArDOT began construction on the new path for I 49 towards US 71 south of Fort Smith bypassing Van Buren and Fort Smith Work is now complete between US 71 and AR 22 near Fort Chaffee as the first and southernmost phase of the extension of I 49 bypassing I 540 The project is explicitly mentioned as an effort to complete I 49 in the TIGER grant application 67 Colloquially referred to as Chaffee Crossing this first phase was completed on July 15 2015 at the AR 549 and AR 22 Interchange A groundbreaking on the segment to I 40 occurred on October 13 2022 this segment is estimated to cost 800 million almost half of which is going to the bridge over the Arkansas River Construction on this project will start in early 2024 and last five to six years 68 69 70 South of this segment I 49 is planned to follow the general route of US 71 through the state between I 30 and I 40 71 Junction list editLouisiana nbsp nbsp nbsp I 10 US 167 LA 182 in Lafayette I 49 and US 167 travel concurrently to a point between Opelousas and Washington nbsp US 190 east of Opelousas nbsp US 167 south of Lecompte nbsp nbsp US 71 US 167 in Alexandria I 49 and US 167 travel concurrently into downtown Alexandria nbsp nbsp US 71 US 165 in Alexandria nbsp US 371 southwest of Coushatta nbsp US 84 west of Grand Bayou nbsp LA 3132 in Shreveport Freeway carrying through traffic bound for I 20 west and northern segment of I 49 nbsp I 20 in Shreveport Gap in route nbsp I 220 in Shreveport nbsp US 71 between Gilliam and Hosston Arkansas nbsp US 71 south southeast of Doddridge nbsp US 71 south of Fouke nbsp US 71 in Texarkana nbsp US 82 in Texarkana nbsp US 67 in Texarkana nbsp I 30 in Texarkana Arkansas Texas line nbsp nbsp US 59 US 71 north of Texarkana Texas Not finished Arkansas nbsp US 71 in Fort Smith Gap in route nbsp nbsp I 40 US 71 in Alma nbsp US 71 in Fayetteville The highways travel concurrently to Bentonville nbsp US 62 in Fayetteville The highways travel concurrently to Bentonville nbsp US 412 in Springdale nbsp nbsp US 71B US 71 in Bentonville Missouri nbsp US 71 south of Pineville The highways travel concurrently to Kansas City nbsp US 60 in Neosho nbsp I 44 south southwest of Duenweg The highways travel concurrently to Fidelity nbsp US 160 in Lamar nbsp US 54 in Nevada nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp I 435 I 470 US 50 US 71 in Kansas City 72 See also edit nbsp U S roads portalReferences edit a b Starks Edward January 27 2022 Table 1 Main Routes of the Dwight D Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways FHWA Route Log and Finder List Federal Highway Administration Retrieved December 6 2023 a b Special Committee on U S Route Numbering July 6 1977 Route Numbering Committee Agenda PDF Report Washington DC American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials p 2 Retrieved January 19 2016 via Wikimedia Commons I 49 Conversion Missouri Department of Transportation Archived from the original on July 10 2016 Retrieved May 24 2016 LeJeune Henri September 20 2004 Officials ask patience safe driving during sugar harvest season The Daily Iberian Retrieved January 25 2024 Nadeau Gregory G March 28 2014 Letter Approving I 49 Designation PDF Letter to Scott E Bennett Federal Highway Administration Archived from the original PDF on May 27 2014 Retrieved May 26 2014 a b Moving northward Morning Advocate Baton Rouge April 9 1986 p 3B a b Previous Facts of the Day 50th Anniversary Interstate Highway System Federal Highway Administration Retrieved January 19 2016 Special Committee on U S Route Numbering October 3 1981 Route Numbering Committee Agenda Report Washington DC American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials p 2 Retrieved January 19 2016 via Wikisource Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development 1979 Louisiana Map 1980 ed Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development a b Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development 1981 Louisiana Map Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development a b Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development 1983 Louisiana Map Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development 1984 Louisiana Map Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Leblanc Doug March 29 1987 Interstate 49 Expected to be Finished by 1991 Sunday Advocate Baton Rouge p 1B New Stretch of Interstate to be Opened Morning Advocate Baton Rouge November 10 1989 p 7B a b c d e f g Johnston Louis Williamson Samuel H 2023 What Was the U S GDP Then MeasuringWorth Retrieved November 30 2023 United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series I 49 North Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Archived from the original on November 19 2012 Retrieved November 29 2012 Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development I 49 North Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Archived from the original on June 16 2016 Retrieved August 16 2016 Heyen Curtis May 30 2017 Louisiana to Open Part of New Stretch of I 49 on Wednesday Shreveport LA KSLA News 12 Retrieved June 3 2017 KSLA Staff LaDOTD opens new ramps along I 49 I 220 in Caddo Retrieved June 23 2018 New Shreveport I 49 I 220 interchange officially opens shreveporttimes com Retrieved October 18 2018 Kennedy Wally May 11 2007 Plan Holds 2008 Finish for Range Line Bypass The Joplin Globe Retrieved November 29 2012 Special Committee on U S Route Numbering September 29 2007 Report for SCOH PDF Report Washington DC American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Archived from the original PDF on October 16 2017 page needed Interstate 49 Corridors 1 and 37 AARoads June 9 2002 Archived from the original on October 24 2012 Retrieved November 29 2012 US 71 from Kansas City to Joplin to become Interstate 49 Kansas City Star September 2 2012 Archived from the original on September 6 2012 a b Southwest District Office New I 49 Signs Being Installed Along US 71 Press release Missouri Department of Transportation Archived from the original on November 9 2012 Retrieved December 23 2012 Missouri Gateway to Bella Vista Bypass Scrapped Joplin Independent October 15 2007 Archived from the original on February 4 2012 Retrieved February 14 2012 Community Relations Office August 4 2010 I 49 Coming to Missouri Press release Missouri Department of Transportation Archived from the original on August 5 2012 Retrieved November 29 2012 Porter Steve July 28 2009 Bruce R Watkins Drive Is Smoother Months Ahead of Schedule Press release Missouri Department of Transportation Archived from the original on June 1 2010 Kansas City PD Top 20 Crash Sites 2010 PDF Kansas City MO KMBC TV Archived PDF from the original on October 9 2022 permanent dead link Wilson Susan B June 15 2010 No Changes in Store for Controversial Bruce R Watkins Drive Kansas City MO KCUR FM Retrieved November 29 2012 Ortega Tony May 26 2005 Road Rage The Pitch Kansas City MO Archived from the original on February 22 2014 Retrieved November 29 2012 Comments and responses from MoDOT s blog relating to ARRA PDF Summary of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Briefings Missouri Department of Transportation March 10 2009 Archived from the original PDF on February 22 2014 Retrieved November 29 2012 Kansas City s Vital Link PDF Pathways Missouri Department of Transportation Fall 2001 Archived from the original PDF on October 12 2008 Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department AHTD List of ARRA projects PDF Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department Though both are labeled Hwy 71 here as described 030325 is AR 245 future I 130 amp I 49 while 030354 is AR 549 future I 49 Whatley Jeff May 13 2013 Highway 549 Opens to Traffic in Texarkana Wednesday PDF Press release Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department Archived from the original PDF on February 21 2014 Retrieved May 27 2013 State Highway Map PDF Map Cartography by Planning and Research Division Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department 2013 Archived from the original PDF on May 29 2014 full citation needed Staff August 23 2010 Highway 71 Bella Vista Bypass PDF TIGER II Discretionary Grant Program 2010 Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department Archived from the original PDF on November 5 2011 Retrieved February 14 2012 U S Department of Transportation Arkansas Agreement Clears Way for Construction on Bella Vista Bypass Press release Federal Highway Administration August 11 2010 Retrieved May 27 2013 Route 71 Section 19 Hwy 72 North Co Rd 34 B V Bypass F PDF Construction Documents Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department March 7 2012 Archived from the original PDF on March 11 2014 Retrieved March 10 2014 a b c Bennett Scott March 5 2014 AHTD Presentation to ASCE Day of Training PDF Fayetteville AR Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department Archived from the original PDF on March 11 2014 Retrieved March 10 2014 Second section of Bella Vista Bypass opened to traffic NWADG com August 22 2015 Smith Jamie April 9 2013 Half Cent Sales Tax Projects Coming into Fruition The City Wire Archived from the original on May 14 2013 Retrieved May 27 2012 Route 71 Section 19 Hwy 71B Hwy 72 South Bella Vista Bypass S PDF Construction Documents Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department Archived from the original PDF on March 11 2014 Retrieved March 10 2014 Bids opened for next phase of Bella Vista Bypass Little Rock AR KTHV February 26 2014 Archived from the original on March 11 2014 Retrieved March 10 2014 US 71 Highway to become I 49 on Wednesday Kansas City MO KMBC TV December 11 2012 Archived from the original on December 3 2013 Retrieved December 19 2012 Kargas Marissa Leach Sean September 12 2013 Bella Vista Bypass Hits 25M Bump in the Road NWA Homepage Archived from the original on December 3 2013 Retrieved November 29 2013 Moritz Rob September 12 2013 Highway Commission Postpones Part Of Bella Vista Bypass Project The Southwest Times Record Fort Smith AR Arkansas News Bureau Archived from the original on December 3 2013 Retrieved November 29 2013 a b Highway 71 Benton County Connecting Arkansas Program Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department February 26 2014 Archived from the original on March 11 2014 Retrieved March 10 2014 Wood Ron April 9 2020 End in sight for completing Interstate 49 around Bella Vista McDonald County Press Kathryn Gilker May 10 2017 New Portion Of I 49 Bypass Complete In Bella Vista 5News Retrieved August 23 2017 Della Rosa Jeff March 6 2019 Missouri to complete its part of Bella Vista Bypass by 2022 Talk Business amp Politics Ostmeyer Andy April 2 2020 Missouri awards contract for its share of Bella Vista bypass Joplin Globe I 49 Bella Vista bypass now complete Fayetteville Flyer October 2021 Retrieved October 1 2021 Statutory Listing of Corridor Descriptions High Priority Corridors National Highway System Planning FHWA www fhwa dot gov Retrieved January 4 2022 I 49 Lafayette Connector I 49 Lafayette Connector Retrieved March 2 2022 I 49 Lafayette Connector How We Got Here The Advertiser Retrieved February 23 2017 Marcantel Stephen March 1 2023 How a civil rights investigation could alter the I 49 Connector The Current Retrieved May 5 2023 Governor local officials kick off future I 49 construction here s what it will look like The Advocate November 15 2022 Retrieved May 5 2023 US 90 Future I 49 LA 318 Interchange Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Archived from the original on February 24 2017 Retrieved February 23 2017 Environmental wwwsp dotd la gov Archived from the original on February 24 2017 Retrieved March 2 2022 I 49 Inner City Connector Shreveport I 49 Inner City Connector Shreveport 2016 Archived from the original on June 5 2017 Retrieved June 3 2017 Interstate 49 Northbound Shreveport Vicinity Louisiana SouthEastRoads February 27 2004 Retrieved January 28 2013 self published source Heyen Curtis January 24 2023 New I 49 inner city connector study corridor would avoid historic Allendale neighborhood www ksla com Retrieved May 5 2023 Abbott Chloe May 31 2023 I 49 connector project subject of debate before MPC KTBS Retrieved June 3 2023 State Highway Map PDF Map Cartography by Planning and Research Division Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department 2012 Archived from the original PDF on February 21 2014 State Highway Map PDF Map Cartography by Planning and Research Division Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department 2012 Archived from the original PDF on February 21 2014 Highway 71 New Location Future Interstate 49 PDF Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Discretionary Grant Program Fiscal Year 2012 Application Arkansas Department of Transportation p 2 Archived from the original PDF on February 21 2014 Retrieved May 27 2013 I 49 Project Arkansas Department of Transportation Retrieved April 27 2023 Smith Jacob October 10 2022 Future Interstate 49 to break ground in Barling KNWA FOX24 Retrieved May 5 2023 Williams Rachel October 14 2022 Arkansas officials break ground on I 49 expansion in Barling 5newsonline com Retrieved May 5 2023 Johnson Kelly July 14 2015 New Section of I 49 Opened Fort Smith AR KHBS TV Retrieved July 15 2015 Rand McNally 2014 The Road Atlas Walmart ed Chicago Rand McNally pp 10 44 58 ISBN 978 0 528 00771 2 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Interstate 49 KML file edit help Template Attached KML Interstate 49KML is from Wikidata Interstate Guide I 49 I 49 Energy Corridor Archived February 8 2011 at the Wayback Machine I 49 North Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development I 49 Report Archived February 28 2009 at the Wayback Machine Interstate49 org I 49 Inner City Connector Shreveport I 49 Inner City Connector map Shreveport LA I 49 Connector Lafayette LA Future I 49 South Pictures Stephen Gantry Future I 49 South Pictures Andy P Jung Arkansas Highway amp Transportation Dept Bella Vista Bypass Archived July 14 2014 at the Wayback Machine I 49 Lafayette Connector DOTD launched study on Raceland New Orleans I 49 segment Archived February 24 2017 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Interstate 49 amp oldid 1215201328, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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