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Author Topic: I-49 Coming to Missouri  (Read 483074 times)

mvak36

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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #950 on: January 02, 2020, 01:24:10 PM »

https://www.joplinglobe.com/news/local_news/bids-to-go-out-soon-for-work-on-missouri-share/article_7eac56fa-7898-5c0c-9bbc-54dbca9651dc.html

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BELLA VISTA, Ark. – Bids will go out soon for the Missouri stretch of the Bella Vista Bypass.

"We're finishing up our final (internal) review of the plan," Dave Taylor, area engineer with the Missouri Department of Transportation, said Tuesday. "Probably two or three weeks into January we are going to send it out for bids."

Contractors will have about two or three months to review the project and return their bids for the 4.8-mile stretch, with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarding the project possibly by April 1, he said.

That will be followed by pre-construction meetings, with work beginning possibly by early summer.

"Everything is still on track," Taylor said. "Our plan is to have all the work done by (the) end of 2021, first part of 2022."

Arkansas officials held a ceremony in October to launch construction of the last remaining portion of the Bella Vista Bypass in their state, a 2.4-mile stretch of four-lane highway running north to the Missouri state line.

A majority of the bypass, 11.7 miles of the 18.9-mile road, has been completed on the Arkansas side.

........

Scott E. Bennett, director of the Arkansas Department of Transportation, said in October that the 2.4-mile stretch skirting to the west of Bella Vista will be completed in the latter part of 2020 at a price of $36 million. Arkansas officials also are working on a new interchange at Bentonville, replacing the current roundabout located at I-49 and U.S. 71 in Bentonville. It is expected to be completed by 2022 at a cost of $67 million.
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US71

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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #953 on: January 24, 2020, 12:31:11 PM »

MODOT adds another $7 Million for construction

https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2020/jan/20/missouri-adds-7m-for-i-49-connection-20/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_Northwest_Arkansas_Democrat-Gazette

Big spenders......

The pre-bid benchmark for materials came in higher than originally estimated, so they had to add money to the pot so the bids couldn't over run the budget.
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mvak36

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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #954 on: February 10, 2020, 10:21:36 PM »

They have opened the bids for the Missouri portion of the Bella Vista Bypass: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=19531.msg2477503#msg2477503



According to this, the Notice to Proceed is April 16, 2020 and the project has to be completed by Sep 30, 2021.
« Last Edit: February 10, 2020, 10:46:39 PM by mvak36 »
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US71

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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #955 on: February 11, 2020, 03:50:49 PM »

They have opened the bids for the Missouri portion of the Bella Vista Bypass: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=19531.msg2477503#msg2477503



According to this, the Notice to Proceed is April 16, 2020 and the project has to be completed by Sep 30, 2021.

Are there any diagrams for NB 71 to SB 49 or will you have to turn around at Pineville?
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mvak36

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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #956 on: February 11, 2020, 04:11:53 PM »

They have opened the bids for the Missouri portion of the Bella Vista Bypass: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=19531.msg2477503#msg2477503



According to this, the Notice to Proceed is April 16, 2020 and the project has to be completed by Sep 30, 2021.

Are there any diagrams for NB 71 to SB 49 or will you have to turn around at Pineville?

Here are the plans. It doesn't look like there is anything for that movement (or NB 49 to SB 71 either). Someone should probably double check me on that.
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M86

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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #957 on: February 12, 2020, 12:09:28 AM »

Are there any diagrams for NB 71 to SB 49 or will you have to turn around at Pineville?

Here are the plans. It doesn't look like there is anything for that movement (or NB 49 to SB 71 either). Someone should probably double check me on that.
You're correct. I don't see this being a problem, as it's a very sparsely populated area with heavy interstate/truck traffic. It is so great to see this moving forward, and thanks for posting the plans.
After seeing the signage plans, I don't think it would be worst idea ever to add Fayetteville to the list of control cities. (US71 don't hate me!).
I mean, Ft. Smith and Fayetteville now have about a 3,000 population difference.
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US71

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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #958 on: February 12, 2020, 10:12:36 AM »

Are there any diagrams for NB 71 to SB 49 or will you have to turn around at Pineville?

Here are the plans. It doesn't look like there is anything for that movement (or NB 49 to SB 71 either). Someone should probably double check me on that.
You're correct. I don't see this being a problem, as it's a very sparsely populated area with heavy interstate/truck traffic. It is so great to see this moving forward, and thanks for posting the plans.
After seeing the signage plans, I don't think it would be worst idea ever to add Fayetteville to the list of control cities. (US71 don't hate me!).
I mean, Ft. Smith and Fayetteville now have about a 3,000 population difference.


Oklahoma City was added to I-40 west of Little Rock last year, so now the control cities are Fort Smith and Little Rock.
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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #959 on: February 12, 2020, 11:07:19 AM »

After seeing the signage plans, I don't think it would be worst idea ever to add Fayetteville to the list of control cities. (US71 don't hate me!).
I mean, Ft. Smith and Fayetteville now have about a 3,000 population difference.
Fayetteville is simply the biggest of several large-ish cities in the NWA, so comparing Fort Smith and Fayetteville proper isn't really a fair comparison. Van Buren is the only city in the F.S metro above 20-25k other than F.S itself.
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Konza

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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #960 on: February 12, 2020, 01:34:40 PM »

And something tells me that simply "NWA" or even "Northwest Arkansas" would not be nearly descriptive enough...
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skluth

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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #961 on: February 12, 2020, 07:46:18 PM »

They have opened the bids for the Missouri portion of the Bella Vista Bypass: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=19531.msg2477503#msg2477503

According to this, the Notice to Proceed is April 16, 2020 and the project has to be completed by Sep 30, 2021.

Are there any diagrams for NB 71 to SB 49 or will you have to turn around at Pineville?

Here are the plans. It doesn't look like there is anything for that movement (or NB 49 to SB 71 either). Someone should probably double check me on that.

The little traffic that needs a connection between NB I-49 and SB US 71 (or NB US 71 to SB I-49) could easily exit at NB I-49 at the Highway H exit. There's already a continuous third lane for entering and exiting traffic between the 71 and H exits. Additional ramps for this traffic could be built should traffic warrant it, though it won't happen quickly given the current economic mess in Missouri.
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US71

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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #962 on: February 12, 2020, 07:48:34 PM »

And something tells me that simply "NWA" or even "Northwest Arkansas" would not be nearly descriptive enough...

Could be confused with "XNA"
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ozarkman417

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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #963 on: February 12, 2020, 08:18:18 PM »

After seeing the signage plans, I don't think it would be worst idea ever to add Fayetteville to the list of control cities. (US71 don't hate me!).
I mean, Ft. Smith and Fayetteville now have about a 3,000 population difference.
Fayetteville is simply the biggest of several large-ish cities in the NWA metro area, so comparing Fort Smith and Fayetteville proper isn't really a fair comparison. Van Buren is the only city in the F.S metro above 20-25k other than F.S itself.
That might help. While it may be true that Fort Smith is in the northwest part of Arkansas, The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers metropolitan area is more well known as the Northwest Arkansas metro area. Blame Walmart, not me  :pan:
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US71

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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #964 on: February 12, 2020, 08:24:31 PM »

After seeing the signage plans, I don't think it would be worst idea ever to add Fayetteville to the list of control cities. (US71 don't hate me!).
I mean, Ft. Smith and Fayetteville now have about a 3,000 population difference.
Fayetteville is simply the biggest of several large-ish cities in the NWA metro area, so comparing Fort Smith and Fayetteville proper isn't really a fair comparison. Van Buren is the only city in the F.S metro above 20-25k other than F.S itself.
That might help. While it may be true that Fort Smith is in the northwest part of Arkansas, The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers metropolitan area is more well known as the Northwest Arkansas metro area. Blame Walmart, not me  :pan:

Fort Smith is considered West Central. Fayetteville is about 60 miles north. Bentonville is another 25-ish. This isn't a popularity contest, though, it's about the motoring public.
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Bobby5280

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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #965 on: February 13, 2020, 03:16:53 PM »

Quote from: Konza
And something tells me that simply "NWA" or even "Northwest Arkansas" would not be nearly descriptive enough...
Quote from: US71
Could be confused with "XNA"

I might be showing my age, but when I see the acronym "NWA" I always think first of a certain gangster rap group from the late 1980's.
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US71

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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #966 on: February 13, 2020, 04:39:28 PM »

Quote from: Konza
And something tells me that simply "NWA" or even "Northwest Arkansas" would not be nearly descriptive enough...
Quote from: US71
Could be confused with "XNA"

I might be showing my age, but when I see the acronym "NWA" I always think first of a certain gangster rap group from the late 1980's.

Well they never made to KNWA (Fayetteville's elevator music station in the 60's and 70's ;) )
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MikieTimT

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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #967 on: February 13, 2020, 05:01:20 PM »

After seeing the signage plans, I don't think it would be worst idea ever to add Fayetteville to the list of control cities. (US71 don't hate me!).
I mean, Ft. Smith and Fayetteville now have about a 3,000 population difference.
Fayetteville is simply the biggest of several large-ish cities in the NWA, so comparing Fort Smith and Fayetteville proper isn't really a fair comparison. Van Buren is the only city in the F.S metro above 20-25k other than F.S itself.

By the time the population of Fayetteville matches Ft. Smith, Springdale may be as large or larger than, making Fayetteville, while perhaps the better known city in NWA because of the U of A, cease to be the largest city in NWA.  What would that look like for a control city change then?  Springdale encourages growth, while Fayetteville regulates it.  Springdale also contains the only major E/W federal highway in the area, at least until the bypass is completed.  It'll still be the largest city other than Tulsa within spitting distance on the entire US-412 route regardless.  That might also be a factor at some point in any control city change.
« Last Edit: February 13, 2020, 05:08:35 PM by MikieTimT »
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US71

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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #968 on: February 13, 2020, 05:43:39 PM »


By the time the population of Fayetteville matches Ft. Smith, Springdale may be as large or larger than, making Fayetteville, while perhaps the better known city in NWA because of the U of A, cease to be the largest city in NWA.  What would that look like for a control city change then?  Springdale encourages growth, while Fayetteville regulates it.  Springdale also contains the only major E/W federal highway in the area, at least until the bypass is completed.  It'll still be the largest city other than Tulsa within spitting distance on the entire US-412 route regardless.  That might also be a factor at some point in any control city change.

Maybe, but I doubt it. Fayetteville has the U of A, but I wouldn't bet against Fayettenam surpassing Fort Smith in a decade or two.. Most of the factories have left town here, though we have fried rice on almost every other corner (seriously).
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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #969 on: February 13, 2020, 06:13:39 PM »

I wasn't trying to say that a "Northwest Arkansas" control point would be good, and that's a terrible idea for the reasons already listed. M86 said Fort Smith and Fayetteville were very close in population (with Fort Smith being on top by a small margin). My point was: While Fort Smith is technically larger than any single city in the Northwest Arkansas metro, there are several similarly-sized cities in NWA, leaving Fayetteville (or Springdale, I suppose) the better candidate when it comes to control cities, if we were going to population. However, due to the presence of I-40 in Fort Smith, the control city is better left as that, in my opinion. As for Oklahoma and it's decision to use Slioam Springs as a control city on US 412.. I can't think of any good reason for it to be that way.
 
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MikieTimT

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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #970 on: February 14, 2020, 04:08:53 PM »

I wasn't trying to say that a "Northwest Arkansas" control point would be good, and that's a terrible idea for the reasons already listed. M86 said Fort Smith and Fayetteville were very close in population (with Fort Smith being on top by a small margin). My point was: While Fort Smith is technically larger than any single city in the Northwest Arkansas metro, there are several similarly-sized cities in NWA, leaving Fayetteville (or Springdale, I suppose) the better candidate when it comes to control cities, if we were going to population. However, due to the presence of I-40 in Fort Smith, the control city is better left as that, in my opinion. As for Oklahoma and it's decision to use Slioam Springs as a control city on US 412.. I can't think of any good reason for it to be that way.

Funny thing, Ft. Smith isn't on I-40.  It's on the south side of the river completely and I-40 doesn't cross it anywhere in Arkansas.  You have to take I-540, OK-64D/US-64, or AR-59/AR-549 to actually get to it, but drive over 3 miles in every case and cross the river to get there.  Van Buren is better connected to I-40 than Ft. Smith is.  Now eventually I-49 will skirt the SE side of Ft. Smith, but that will be at least a decade in the making.  At least it's closer than using Memphis as an I-57 control city.
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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #971 on: February 15, 2020, 12:57:01 AM »

I wasn't trying to say that a "Northwest Arkansas" control point would be good, and that's a terrible idea for the reasons already listed. M86 said Fort Smith and Fayetteville were very close in population (with Fort Smith being on top by a small margin). My point was: While Fort Smith is technically larger than any single city in the Northwest Arkansas metro, there are several similarly-sized cities in NWA, leaving Fayetteville (or Springdale, I suppose) the better candidate when it comes to control cities, if we were going to population. However, due to the presence of I-40 in Fort Smith, the control city is better left as that, in my opinion. As for Oklahoma and it's decision to use Slioam Springs as a control city on US 412.. I can't think of any good reason for it to be that way.
 

Regardless of the population similarity between Ft. Smith and Fayetteville, the latter stands a better chance at being an "anchor" city of the much larger metro area that is NWA than does Ft. Smith.  The proximity of Fayetteville to Springdale, Lowell, Rogers, and the redoubtable Bentonville (aka Walton City!) has already resulted in a "mini-megalopolis" that stands a better than even chance of losing the "mini" prefix in the next half-century.  Between the area's corporate status and the presence of a substantial research university ("Fayettenam -- now that's cute!) at the southern end of the region, the area will only be rendered more attractive as a siting location -- for both employment and housing -- once I-49 offers efficient access from two directions (and it's too bad there's not a full limited-access connection west to Tulsa).  When and if I-49's Arkansas River bridge opens to traffic, the existing "549" segment bypassing Ft. Smith stands a good chance of attracting a few warehousing/distribution facilities due to its proximity to both I-49 and I-40.  But NWA has a definite head start at maintaining its role as the major "800-pound-gorilla" of the western edge of the state.

I might be showing my age, but when I see the acronym "NWA" I always think first of a certain gangster rap group from the late 1980's.

A sizeable number of whom have done quite well for themselves in the last 30 years or so:  Ice Cube: movie star; Dr. Dre: mega-producer, etc. etc.   
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US71

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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #972 on: February 15, 2020, 11:49:42 AM »

[
Funny thing, Ft. Smith isn't on I-40.  It's on the south side of the river completely and I-40 doesn't cross it anywhere in Arkansas.  You have to take I-540, OK-64D/US-64, or AR-59/AR-549 to actually get to it, but drive over 3 miles in every case and cross the river to get there.  Van Buren is better connected to I-40 than Ft. Smith is.  Now eventually I-49 will skirt the SE side of Ft. Smith, but that will be at least a decade in the making.  At least it's closer than using Memphis as an I-57 control city.

Little Rock isn't on I-40  though North Little Rock is.
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mvak36

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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #973 on: March 21, 2020, 02:20:49 PM »

They have opened the bids for the Missouri portion of the Bella Vista Bypass: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=19531.msg2477503#msg2477503



According to this, the Notice to Proceed is April 16, 2020 and the project has to be completed by Sep 30, 2021.

Forgot about the bid opening yesterday with all this other stuff going on, but there were two bids submitted for the Bella Vista Bypass.


It looks like the next Commission meeting is on April 1 so I'm guessing that's when they would award this project.
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Re: I-49 Coming to Missouri
« Reply #974 on: March 21, 2020, 03:52:57 PM »

They have opened the bids for the Missouri portion of the Bella Vista Bypass: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=19531.msg2477503#msg2477503



According to this, the Notice to Proceed is April 16, 2020 and the project has to be completed by Sep 30, 2021.

Forgot about the bid opening yesterday with all this other stuff going on, but there were two bids submitted for the Bella Vista Bypass.


It looks like the next Commission meeting is on April 1 so I'm guessing that's when they would award this project.

What's the ETA for construction to begin?
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