Interstate 49

Part of National Highway System (NHS) Corridor 1 linking Shreveport, Louisiana with Kansas City, Missouri, two segments of Interstate 49 are designated in the Natural State. A 42.0 mile long segment extends north from Louisiana to U.S. 71 north of Texarkana while a 72 mile segment follows former Interstate 540 from I-40 near Alma to U.S. 71 Business and AR 549 south of Bella Vista.

The Bella Vista Bypass was expanded to four lanes and completed when the I-49 link to Pineville, Missouri opened to traffic on September 30, 2021.

Interstate 49 Arkansas Guides

As of June 25, 2014, the request to designate Arkansas Highway 549 along the Texarkana stretch as Interstate 49 was approved by AASHTO, effective immediately. As it was near completion, the unopened portion south of Texarkana was conditionally approved as well.¹

Highway 549 formerly provided a partial freeway connection between Texarkana and Shreveport. Opened in phases between 2004, 2005 and 2013, the state highway stems southward from Texarkana toward the Louisiana state line. When the final segment between U.S. 71 (Exit 4) and the Arkansas/Louisiana state line opened to traffic on November 10, 2014, Interstate 49 formed an almost seamless freeway between Shreveport and Texarkana. The connection with I-220 at Shreveport, Louisiana was finally finished on October 17, 2018.

The first segment of the much anticipated Bella Vista bypass opened to traffic on April 22, 2014 at a cost of $19.9 million. Signed as Highway 549, the initial phase of the future I-49 extending north to Missouri linked I-49 and U.S. 71 Business with Highway 72 at Hiwasse. Subsequent projects extended the bypass to the Missouri state line, widened the remaining two lane sections, and converted the roundabout interchange between I-49 and U.S. 71 in north Bentonville into a single point urban interchange (SPUI).

Arkansas Highway 549 Guides

• Highway 549 - Fort Smith

A six mile section of Arkansas Highway 549 opened July 2015 as part of a future Interstate 49 eastern bypass of Fort Smith. The freeway ties into AR 22 between Barling and Central City on the north end and U.S. 71 near White Bluff on its southern end. This segment will become I-49 once the northern connection to Alma is built, which includes a new crossing over the Arkansas River. No definitive time table has been set for construction of the northern section.

scenes

U.S. 59/71 south at the north end of I-49 around Texarkana. The freeway arcs southeast to Interstate 30. 05/20/14

South from the half diamond interchange with I-49, U.S. 59/71 straddle the Texas state line six miles into Downtown Texarkana. 05/20/14

Photo Credits:

05/20/14 by AARoads

Connect with:
Interstate 30
Highway 151

Page Updated 10-29-2021.