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Author Topic: I-49 in Arkansas  (Read 1295841 times)

msunat97

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3775 on: July 21, 2022, 09:19:20 AM »

I wonder when one will be able to drive non-stop on Interstate 49 from the Louisiana border to the Missouri border? I suspect one might have to wait until 2050 for that to occur.

I'm 48 & I don't expect to see it in my lifetime. 
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silverback1065

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3776 on: July 21, 2022, 09:24:05 AM »

I wonder when one will be able to drive non-stop on Interstate 49 from the Louisiana border to the Missouri border? I suspect one might have to wait until 2050 for that to occur.

I'm 48 & I don't expect to see it in my lifetime.

 :-D
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dariusb

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3777 on: July 23, 2022, 09:18:56 PM »

i can only think of a couple of 4-lane stretches of interstate in Arkansas, both in the Little Rock area: The 2-mile stretch of I-40 between the I-30 and US 67 interchanges, and the short stretch of I-30 west of the I-430 interchange (that's actually 5 lanes counting the decel lane for Otter Creek).

Fayetteville I-49 between Exits 65 and 67 is 8-9 lanes.

https://goo.gl/maps/N9uvFdTfPa5kTzin7
Outside of Little Rock, Fayetteville has the highest interstate traffic counts, right?
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rte66man

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3778 on: July 24, 2022, 05:47:34 PM »

i can only think of a couple of 4-lane stretches of interstate in Arkansas, both in the Little Rock area: The 2-mile stretch of I-40 between the I-30 and US 67 interchanges, and the short stretch of I-30 west of the I-430 interchange (that's actually 5 lanes counting the decel lane for Otter Creek).

Fayetteville I-49 between Exits 65 and 67 is 8-9 lanes.

https://goo.gl/maps/N9uvFdTfPa5kTzin7
Outside of Little Rock, Fayetteville has the highest interstate traffic counts, right?

I would think I55/I40 in West Memphis would be higher than Fayetteville
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Tomahawkin

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3779 on: July 24, 2022, 06:35:52 PM »

55/40 Goes no more than 6 lanes total in West Memphis. If it does go to 7-8 lanes, its only at exit ramps

OT Is anyone suprised that the Skyline in Little Rock hasnt Changed in almost 40 years? Meanwhile the next state over in Nashville and Knoxville both are some of the biggest booming cities in the south along with Fayetteville ( Even though Fayetteville is considered Midsouth)
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MikieTimT

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3780 on: July 25, 2022, 02:10:08 PM »

55/40 Goes no more than 6 lanes total in West Memphis. If it does go to 7-8 lanes, its only at exit ramps

OT Is anyone suprised that the Skyline in Little Rock hasnt Changed in almost 40 years? Meanwhile the next state over in Nashville and Knoxville both are some of the biggest booming cities in the south along with Fayetteville ( Even though Fayetteville is considered Midsouth)

According to 2021 AADT counts, the stretch that's 9 lanes for the entrance ramp from Fulbright Expressway going southbound in Fayetteville is 90,000.

And West Memphis the I-40/I-55 multiplex is 80,000.
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MikieTimT

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3781 on: July 25, 2022, 02:25:18 PM »

Those aren't even the highest I-49 counts in NWA.

Springdale/Lowell is 93,000
Lowell/Rogers is 92,000
Rogers between Exits 81 and 82 is 91,000.

Benton County has higher traffic counts, but the exit spacing is better, so there aren't as many of the merging conflicts that Fayetteville suffers from.  I-4X/I-50 will make Lowell much worse once it's fully fleshed out.
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Tomahawkin

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3782 on: July 25, 2022, 06:48:43 PM »

Thanks for providing those traffic counts. Is US 71 from Fayetteville up through Springdale still congested from the hours 2pm to 8pm? I remember US71 and Joyce being one of the most congested intersections in the state? This was Circa 2007-08 before I moved back to Georgia...
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MikieTimT

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3783 on: July 25, 2022, 09:06:32 PM »

Thanks for providing those traffic counts. Is US 71 from Fayetteville up through Springdale still congested from the hours 2pm to 8pm? I remember US71 and Joyce being one of the most congested intersections in the state? This was Circa 2007-08 before I moved back to Georgia...

It's not quite as bad as it was 2 years ago now that they have opened the left-lane flyover from NB US-71B->Fulbright Expressway/Mall Ave.  Just as much traffic coming from everywhere other than the protected left from NB US-71B->W. Joyce Blvd., which doesn't have to run as long since there isn't nearly as much U-turn to Fulbright Expressway/Mall Ave. traffic there now. That gives more intersection time for the other movements.
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rte66man

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3784 on: July 30, 2022, 03:05:46 PM »

55/40 Goes no more than 6 lanes total in West Memphis. If it does go to 7-8 lanes, its only at exit ramps

OT Is anyone suprised that the Skyline in Little Rock hasnt Changed in almost 40 years? Meanwhile the next state over in Nashville and Knoxville both are some of the biggest booming cities in the south along with Fayetteville ( Even though Fayetteville is considered Midsouth)

According to 2021 AADT counts, the stretch that's 9 lanes for the entrance ramp from Fulbright Expressway going southbound in Fayetteville is 90,000.

And West Memphis the I-40/I-55 multiplex is 80,000.

Would never have guessed that. They must have taken all their data points for the average in West Memphis at 3 a.m. :)
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MikieTimT

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3785 on: July 31, 2022, 04:28:16 PM »

55/40 Goes no more than 6 lanes total in West Memphis. If it does go to 7-8 lanes, its only at exit ramps

OT Is anyone suprised that the Skyline in Little Rock hasnt Changed in almost 40 years? Meanwhile the next state over in Nashville and Knoxville both are some of the biggest booming cities in the south along with Fayetteville ( Even though Fayetteville is considered Midsouth)

According to 2021 AADT counts, the stretch that's 9 lanes for the entrance ramp from Fulbright Expressway going southbound in Fayetteville is 90,000.

And West Memphis the I-40/I-55 multiplex is 80,000.

Would never have guessed that. They must have taken all their data points for the average in West Memphis at 3 a.m. :)

I'm sure the averaging part of AADT handles time of day issues.  The part that makes W. Memphis worse is the percentage of truck traffic being higher and the need for merging/lane changing within a fairly short distance.
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abqtraveler

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3786 on: July 31, 2022, 09:39:58 PM »

55/40 Goes no more than 6 lanes total in West Memphis. If it does go to 7-8 lanes, its only at exit ramps

OT Is anyone suprised that the Skyline in Little Rock hasnt Changed in almost 40 years? Meanwhile the next state over in Nashville and Knoxville both are some of the biggest booming cities in the south along with Fayetteville ( Even though Fayetteville is considered Midsouth)

According to 2021 AADT counts, the stretch that's 9 lanes for the entrance ramp from Fulbright Expressway going southbound in Fayetteville is 90,000.

And West Memphis the I-40/I-55 multiplex is 80,000.

Would never have guessed that. They must have taken all their data points for the average in West Memphis at 3 a.m. :)

I'm sure the averaging part of AADT handles time of day issues.  The part that makes W. Memphis worse is the percentage of truck traffic being higher and the need for merging/lane changing within a fairly short distance.

Which is why it would make sense to complete I-269 as a full outer beltway around Memphis. Two new bridges, one to the north, and one to the south, would relieve traffic on the I-40 and I-55 bridges, which are both overburdened.
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2-d Interstates traveled:  4, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 24, 25, 27, 29, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45, 49, 55, 57, 64, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76(E), 77, 78, 81, 83, 84(W), 85, 87(N), 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95

2-d Interstates Clinched:  12, 22, 30, 37, 44, 59, 80, 84(E), 86(E), 238, H1, H2, H3, H201

Plutonic Panda

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3787 on: August 01, 2022, 12:34:59 AM »

^^^ or build I-55 on a new alignment west of Memphis first.
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MikieTimT

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3788 on: August 01, 2022, 12:52:44 AM »

55/40 Goes no more than 6 lanes total in West Memphis. If it does go to 7-8 lanes, its only at exit ramps

OT Is anyone suprised that the Skyline in Little Rock hasnt Changed in almost 40 years? Meanwhile the next state over in Nashville and Knoxville both are some of the biggest booming cities in the south along with Fayetteville ( Even though Fayetteville is considered Midsouth)

According to 2021 AADT counts, the stretch that's 9 lanes for the entrance ramp from Fulbright Expressway going southbound in Fayetteville is 90,000.

And West Memphis the I-40/I-55 multiplex is 80,000.

Would never have guessed that. They must have taken all their data points for the average in West Memphis at 3 a.m. :)

I'm sure the averaging part of AADT handles time of day issues.  The part that makes W. Memphis worse is the percentage of truck traffic being higher and the need for merging/lane changing within a fairly short distance.

Which is why it would make sense to complete I-269 as a full outer beltway around Memphis. Two new bridges, one to the north, and one to the south, would relieve traffic on the I-40 and I-55 bridges, which are both overburdened.

Here, here!  Once they've taken care of a few of the interchanges in NWA, it'll be about time to add another lane in each direction on I-49, or get serious about an I-x49 western beltway.  At the current rate of growth in the area, I give it 10-12 years before it becomes overdue, but the extra 2 lanes on mainline I-49 are already needed 5 hours out of the day.  I-x49 would likely run from straight south of the E/W bend of the BVB, skirt the edge of XNA, the Illinois River Valley, and run near Prairie Grove and tie back in just south of the Greenland exit winding around a couple of tall hills.
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razorback0308

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3789 on: August 01, 2022, 08:09:29 PM »

55/40 Goes no more than 6 lanes total in West Memphis. If it does go to 7-8 lanes, its only at exit ramps

OT Is anyone suprised that the Skyline in Little Rock hasnt Changed in almost 40 years? Meanwhile the next state over in Nashville and Knoxville both are some of the biggest booming cities in the south along with Fayetteville ( Even though Fayetteville is considered Midsouth)

According to 2021 AADT counts, the stretch that's 9 lanes for the entrance ramp from Fulbright Expressway going southbound in Fayetteville is 90,000.

And West Memphis the I-40/I-55 multiplex is 80,000.

Would never have guessed that. They must have taken all their data points for the average in West Memphis at 3 a.m. :)

I'm sure the averaging part of AADT handles time of day issues.  The part that makes W. Memphis worse is the percentage of truck traffic being higher and the need for merging/lane changing within a fairly short distance.

Which is why it would make sense to complete I-269 as a full outer beltway around Memphis. Two new bridges, one to the north, and one to the south, would relieve traffic on the I-40 and I-55 bridges, which are both overburdened.

Here, here!  Once they've taken care of a few of the interchanges in NWA, it'll be about time to add another lane in each direction on I-49, or get serious about an I-x49 western beltway.  At the current rate of growth in the area, I give it 10-12 years before it becomes overdue, but the extra 2 lanes on mainline I-49 are already needed 5 hours out of the day.  I-x49 would likely run from straight south of the E/W bend of the BVB, skirt the edge of XNA, the Illinois River Valley, and run near Prairie Grove and tie back in just south of the Greenland exit winding around a couple of tall hills.

Co-sign. As a NW Arkansas resident, the beltway needs to be built within the next 10 years. Sadly though, there’s no chance that will actually happen.
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Tomahawkin

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3790 on: August 01, 2022, 10:46:38 PM »

Im Cosigning as well...I will be out in Fayetteville tomorrow for the 1st time since 2009. A Beltway is needed because its better to be proactive as opposed to reactive! GA has a hard problem understanding this philospoy.

Problem is Arkansas gets little funding for projects like this. its the main reason as to why I suggested a 50 cent toll on IH 49 or on IH 30 in the Bryant area in 2006-09 when I was In college. I find it funny that peolple will pay for 5 dollar gas but refuse to pay for 50 cent tolls that benefit their own state...

And I heard that its the Gov't that Bans tolls in the state. Its night and day when comparing road and interchange improvements between Arkansas and Texas over the last 25 years, IDC about the population gap. Arkansas needs serious road improvements statewide....
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The Ghostbuster

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3791 on: August 02, 2022, 06:54:30 PM »

Would it be possible to extend the Fulbright Expressway into a full Fayetteville beltway? I think there is too much development to the east to make such a route happen. I'm not sure where else a Fayetteville beltway could be alternatively constructed, even hypothetically.
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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3792 on: August 03, 2022, 01:15:18 AM »

I don't recall the Y City-Acorn passage as particularly treacherous.

That is called Foran Gap. Black Fork Mountain rises in eastern Oklahoma near Page, and heads into Arkansas and terminates at Eagle Gap. Fourche Mountain begins at the other side of Eagle Gap, and runs all the way into Montgomery County. Foran Gap is a natural pass that runs northwest-southeast and cuts through the rather tall mountain (by Ouachita standards), and that is the reason US 71 and 270 has the huge S curve. in it. Foran Gap isn't bad at all, but if you tried to build a freeway over Fourche Mountain that ran due north from Acorn, it would have some very steep grades and there would be plenty of curves. When I-49 is routed through there, there will only be one really big sweeping curve in it, since it will run due south from CR 70 towards AR 88 east of Mena, and avoiding Acorn entirely. Blue Mountain, which is a peak on Fourche Mountain, is the fifth highest point in the state. A structure will have to be built at Foran Gap where the Ouachita Trail crosses the highway. Hopefully they will somehow retain access to the trail at this point.

Here's a Google Earth shot of Foran Gap, looking northwest. It's easy to see how the mountain has a low spot in it where the highways run.

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US71

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3793 on: August 03, 2022, 10:40:25 PM »

Would it be possible to extend the Fulbright Expressway into a full Fayetteville beltway? I think there is too much development to the east to make such a route happen. I'm not sure where else a Fayetteville beltway could be alternatively constructed, even hypothetically.

IIRC, that is a future project that has been discussed, but there are no plans at this time.
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Tomahawkin

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3794 on: August 04, 2022, 06:00:53 PM »

Drove 49 up to KC today. I was impressed with the fact that ARDOT Is proactive in building more bridges and future exits over 49 in the Roger's area. I'm amazed at the Growth there. With that said IMO it's time to think about making 49, 8 total lanes from Fayetteville to center city Roger's. 49 was congested at 1130 am this morning. I'm amazed at all the truck traffic that uses that route. And looking at the BVB I can see how it took so long to build it because of all the rock blasting that had to be done. Assuming the same will need to be done from Ft Smith to Louisiana, it may not be til 2040 until 49 gets built through there...Also the Wedington road bridge needs an overhaul. That is a dangerous intersection. I'd wish they would get rid of those frontage roads at that interchange...
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US71

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3795 on: August 04, 2022, 06:04:14 PM »

Drove 49 up to KC today. I was impressed with the fact that ARDOT Is proactive in building more bridges and future exits over 49 in the Roger's area. I'm amazed at the Growth there. With that said IMO it's time to think about making 49, 8 total lanes from Fayetteville to center city Roger's. 49 was congested at 1130 am this morning. I'm amazed at all the truck traffic that uses that route. And looking at the BVB I can see how it took so long to build it because of all the rock blasting that had to be done. Assuming the same will need to be done from Ft Smith to Louisiana, it may not be til 2040 until 49 gets built through there...Also the Wedington road bridge needs an overhaul. That is a dangerous intersection. I'd wish they would get rid of those frontage roads at that interchange...

Wedington is in the process of being redone. ARDOT made a mess when they built the frontage roads.
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MikieTimT

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3796 on: August 04, 2022, 07:01:20 PM »

Drove 49 up to KC today. I was impressed with the fact that ARDOT Is proactive in building more bridges and future exits over 49 in the Roger's area. I'm amazed at the Growth there. With that said IMO it's time to think about making 49, 8 total lanes from Fayetteville to center city Roger's. 49 was congested at 1130 am this morning. I'm amazed at all the truck traffic that uses that route. And looking at the BVB I can see how it took so long to build it because of all the rock blasting that had to be done. Assuming the same will need to be done from Ft Smith to Louisiana, it may not be til 2040 until 49 gets built through there...Also the Wedington road bridge needs an overhaul. That is a dangerous intersection. I'd wish they would get rid of those frontage roads at that interchange...

Wedington is in the process of being redone. ARDOT made a mess when they built the frontage roads.

Wedington's interchange is scheduled to complete 05/23 according to the construction information sign at the ends of the zone.  They've got a lot of work to do between now and then to do the parclo portion from E.B. Wedington to N.B. I-49, though.

The frontage roads are a cluster here for sure.  There is a gap from Wedington Dr. all the way to Gregg Ave. for Futrall Dr., and Shiloh Dr. has 2 gaps between Gregg Ave. and Garland Ave. as well as from Mt. Comfort/Porter Rd. and Wedington Dr.  I wouldn't say that any other city in NWA along I-49 has anything that resembles a workable access road design whatsoever.
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US71

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3797 on: August 04, 2022, 09:18:34 PM »

Drove 49 up to KC today. I was impressed with the fact that ARDOT Is proactive in building more bridges and future exits over 49 in the Roger's area. I'm amazed at the Growth there. With that said IMO it's time to think about making 49, 8 total lanes from Fayetteville to center city Roger's. 49 was congested at 1130 am this morning. I'm amazed at all the truck traffic that uses that route. And looking at the BVB I can see how it took so long to build it because of all the rock blasting that had to be done. Assuming the same will need to be done from Ft Smith to Louisiana, it may not be til 2040 until 49 gets built through there...Also the Wedington road bridge needs an overhaul. That is a dangerous intersection. I'd wish they would get rid of those frontage roads at that interchange...

Wedington is in the process of being redone. ARDOT made a mess when they built the frontage roads.

Wedington's interchange is scheduled to complete 05/23 according to the construction information sign at the ends of the zone.  They've got a lot of work to do between now and then to do the parclo portion from E.B. Wedington to N.B. I-49, though.

The frontage roads are a cluster here for sure.  There is a gap from Wedington Dr. all the way to Gregg Ave. for Futrall Dr., and Shiloh Dr. has 2 gaps between Gregg Ave. and Garland Ave. as well as from Mt. Comfort/Porter Rd. and Wedington Dr.  I wouldn't say that any other city in NWA along I-49 has anything that resembles a workable access road design whatsoever.

ARDOT is good about planning for yesterday sometime next week :p 
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MikieTimT

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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3798 on: August 05, 2022, 10:45:36 AM »

Drove 49 up to KC today. I was impressed with the fact that ARDOT Is proactive in building more bridges and future exits over 49 in the Roger's area. I'm amazed at the Growth there. With that said IMO it's time to think about making 49, 8 total lanes from Fayetteville to center city Roger's. 49 was congested at 1130 am this morning. I'm amazed at all the truck traffic that uses that route. And looking at the BVB I can see how it took so long to build it because of all the rock blasting that had to be done. Assuming the same will need to be done from Ft Smith to Louisiana, it may not be til 2040 until 49 gets built through there...Also the Wedington road bridge needs an overhaul. That is a dangerous intersection. I'd wish they would get rid of those frontage roads at that interchange...

I think that Rogers has more to do with the 2 new overpasses than ARDOT does.  Rogers is really the only other city in NWA that has any semblance of access roads, between Exits 82 and 85, but Promenade Ave. is pretty far from I-49 in many areas to be legitimately called an access road.

As far as 8 laning goes between Exits 67 and 88, I would agree.  There's a great many times off-peak that I can't maintain 70MPH due to all 3 lanes being plugged in one direction.  Congestion doesn't just occur due to rush hour or accidents.  It's still world's better than it was when it was just 4 lanes, as I would just use AR-112 regularly at its pitiful ~45MPH limit (out of the towns at least) and almost no passing lanes going to Benton County for jobs.  I don't do that as much anymore, but am probably fixing to start again due to Wedington Dr. construction and a stupid illegally operated red dirt mine that Tom Terminella put in that plugs up Harmon Rd. with dump trucks climbing up a very steep hill at 2MPH, assuming they don't miss a shift and stall altogether.  I just hope they don't start the AR-112 widening until after 5/23 so I have at least one northbound route that isn't bottlenecked by construction zones.  The access road situation at Wedington is in the process of being corrected, along with better flow in the mornings for everyone getting onto I-49 northbound to head to Tyson, J.B. Hunt, and Wal-Mart to work.  They'll get rid of 2 sets of traffic lights at the overpass ends when they fix the interchange.
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Re: I-49 in Arkansas
« Reply #3799 on: August 05, 2022, 02:44:13 PM »

I don't recall the Y City-Acorn passage as particularly treacherous.

That is called Foran Gap. Black Fork Mountain rises in eastern Oklahoma near Page, and heads into Arkansas and terminates at Eagle Gap. Fourche Mountain begins at the other side of Eagle Gap, and runs all the way into Montgomery County. Foran Gap is a natural pass that runs northwest-southeast and cuts through the rather tall mountain (by Ouachita standards), and that is the reason US 71 and 270 has the huge S curve. in it. Foran Gap isn't bad at all, but if you tried to build a freeway over Fourche Mountain that ran due north from Acorn, it would have some very steep grades and there would be plenty of curves. When I-49 is routed through there, there will only be one really big sweeping curve in it, since it will run due south from CR 70 towards AR 88 east of Mena, and avoiding Acorn entirely. Blue Mountain, which is a peak on Fourche Mountain, is the fifth highest point in the state. A structure will have to be built at Foran Gap where the Ouachita Trail crosses the highway. Hopefully they will somehow retain access to the trail at this point.

Here's a Google Earth shot of Foran Gap, looking northwest. It's easy to see how the mountain has a low spot in it where the highways run.



Excellent perspective on the Foran Gap. Thanks for sharing.
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